MARCH 4, 1928 is the significant day that the First Mercedarian Sisters arrived on Saipan. Mother Margarita was not with the first group of Sisters. She came to Saipan later that year on November 2nd, at first staying only a few days, since she was accompanying the Sisters who would be establishing the first mission in Pohnpei on November 11, 1928. after her stay in Pohnpei, Mother Margarita visited Fefan in Chuuk and then returned to Saipan for a two-week stay.
During those weeks back in Saipan, Mother Margarita spent time looking at the mission work that had been accomplished by the Sisters since their arrival in March. The First Mission was a Girls’ School located in Garapan, near present day Kristo Rai Church. The school was free for the 240 primary school students who were enrolled. In addition, young Japanese students were enrolled for private music classes, painting, drawing and cooking. There were also Japanese classes for everyone.
On December 11, 1928, Mother Margarita visited the Japanese Governor in Saipan. Mother Margarita wrote that Mr. Sablan, a very educated Chamorro, accompanied her and served as interpreter. Mother Margarita wanted to make sure that everything was clear with the Japanese Government. The situation at the time was that although Japanese school was obligatory from the age of eight, there were many children who were not receiving an education because they did not meet certain criteria. The Governor also mentioned that there was a lack of space and that they needed to build a new building. Mother Margarita was allowed to admit girls of any age to the Sisters’ School. The Japanese Governor asked Mother Margarita to admit those girls who could not finish their program due to various challenges in learning. Mother Margarita was very happy to do so.
Into the future–The years after the Liberation of Saipan in 1944 were ones of recovery, since everything had been destroyed during World
War II. In 1951 the Mercedarian Sisters began, once again, to reestablish their education apostolate with the opening of our Lady of Mercy Kindergarten. This school many years later was re-named- -Sr. Remedios Early Childhood Development Center. The following year in 1952 the Sisters helped to co-found Mt. Carmel School along with Fr. Arnold Bendowski, o.F.M.Cap. The Mt. Carmel School legacy to this day is the fruit of the “seeds” planted back in 1928 by the Mercedarian Sisters.
Love and prayer can, indeed, accomplish everything!
