[In preparation for the 90th Anniversary of the arrival of the MMB Sisters to Saipan on March 4th, we desire to share with you (with slight editing) the original series authored by Sr. Mary Ann Becmer, MMB in 2002-3. She is now a General Councilor of the community in Rome.]
The “Dream” continued in the small school of Saipan begun on St. Joseph’s Day. It flourished and soon it became evident that a new school building was needed. So, by April of 1928, the first stone of the new school and convent was put into place. The progress of the construction went very well and by October 17th, the sisters were sleeping in the new house and the new school was ready to be opened.
Before that happened however, the sisters welcomed Mother Margarita, their new Superior, on her first visit to the new mission. She was coming with an expedition of new missionaries for Micronesia. What a wonderful welcome she received from the people, the students and of course, from her sisters! Though only in Saipan for a few days, Mother Margarita’s charismatic presence brought new strength and hope to the young community. Together they organized the new school and planned the curriculum. On opening day, December 19th, 240 students eagerly began classes. By June of that year, there were 90 small children for each teacher!
In the beginning, along with regular classes, the sisters also offered private classes in piano, Spanish, drawing, and artificial flower making. All of these were to help support the Community since as yet there was no funding for the Saipan mission. Soon home economics classes – cooking, household book- keeping, and sewing for girls 17-20 years of age – were added to the activities. And, not long after that, reading and even a bit of English! The days were full and enriching for everyone.
When Mother Margarita stopped in Saipan, she was accompanied by her sister Lola, and the four missionaries destined for Ponape, in the Caroline Islands – Concepcion Bernaola, Belen Vitores, Dolores Requejo, and Serapia Martinez. After braving a terrible typhoon and fearing they would never see Saipan or anywhere else, they were able to make port. Three days later, they em- barked on the journey again. Finally, on November 11, 1928, the sisters arrived on Ponape. A huge number of Ponapeans welcomed them, singing continuously. With the beautiful wel- come, the people touched the sisters hearts deeply, as evidenced in Mother Margarita’s words, “ the sight and sound of the people brought a lump to my throat and powerful emotions grew by the minute….” How graced they felt to have been called to this beautiful island, in the name of God!
The beginning of the sisters’ apostolate in Ponape was once again in the field of education. However, since the population of Ponape was very dispersed, with great distances, forests and rivers to cross, the sisters began planning for a boarding school to facilitate the education of the young women there. While they waited for the renovation of an available building, the sisters began learning the Ponapean language and culture. By Trinity Sunday in April 1929, the boarding school was ready to be opened, with ten boarders and thirty day students.
The Mercedarians did not limit their apostolic activity to the school only in the missions of Saipan and Ponape. Other apostolates included the Sodality of Mary, the Spiritual Exercises – three day retreats for youth, the Margaritas – a spirituality group, catechesis with the children, singing groups, marriage and parenting preparation, visits to the lepers, plus youth groups on Sundays! As we would say today, “there was never a dull moment!”
From the beginning of contact with the sisters, there were young women in Saipan asking to enter religious life. Ursula Matsunaga and her family developed a close relation- ship with the missionaries and soon she expressed a desire to become a sister. Ursula began the Postulancy on March 19, 1932. It was a day of great celebration on Saipan – people could talk of nothing else! She was the first Micronesian and the first Chamorro to enter the Mercedarian Missionaries. She would pioneer the way for many others to follow by the grace of God. Ursula was sent to Japan for her Novitiate formation. Soon after professing her religious vows, she was sent with a new group of missionaries to found the first mis- sion in Truk, on the island of Fefen.
Fefen is a small island in the vast lagoon of Truk, or Chuuk, as it is known today. Mother Margarita was there during her trip in 1928 and at that time, she was shown the site that had been set aside for the future school. Mother Margarita tossed a small stone into the site saying,
“This is the first stone to be laid for the school….” Her dream would not be realized for many years. In fact, it would only be realized after her death, Mother Margarita Maturana, the foundress of the Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz, died on July 23, 1934 at the age of 49. It was a heartbreaking loss for the newly transformed missionary com- munity. However, the Charism that flowed through Margarita, was very much alive in each of the sisters of Berriz. The “Dream” would continue through them into new horizons and in response to new calls around the world. And so, on June 29, 1936, Concepcion Bernaola from Ponape, Pilar Lorenzo from Saipan, Maria del Nino Jesus Garate and Ursula Matsunaga arrived in Fefen to be- gin the new mission. They had no money – Concepcion jokingly tells that she arrived with only one yen in her pocket, which she spent on candy for the children! And following their tradition, on August 15, 1936, they began classes with 31 girls. And the dream continued…..
…. to be continued….
