So often when people discover mutual friends or acquaintances, you hear them say,” It’s a small world!” and truly on those occasions it seems so. And it must have seemed so in 1941 when the world was in turmoil and the clashes of nations reached the shores of Saipan. Although our sisters could not send direct news of their experiences during the war, with the help of the diaries, journals and accounts of Srs. Maria Pia Goicoechea, Angelica Salaberria, Mercedes Gonzalez, Fr. Tardio and Remedios Castro, we are able to reconstruct the eye- witness events of those times. Spirit-filled dreams are filled with grace, but also, they are filled with challenges, obstacles and often times, suffering. No less “the Dream” the sisters were living and giving their lives for during this time. The years of World War II were years of suffering and loss for all the people of Saipan. For the sisters and for their people, it was a time of agony.
Around 1941, the atmosphere in Saipan began to change due to the orders the police were issuing. Mail was limited, “inspections” were frequent and feelings toward the Catholic Church became more and more hostile until finally, the children were prohibited from at- tending school, catechism classes and other activities. By December 1941, as a consequence of the United States declaring war on Japan, all public worship was suppressed and all the missionaries were detained by the Japanese authorities. The sisters could move about Garapan but could not leave the center of the village. By December 23rd,they were forbidden to leave the house and couldn’t celebrate Mass. Remedios Castro (Sr. Remedios today), 18 years old at the time, brought food and cared for the sisters. During these long stretches of forced isolation, the sisters maintained their spirits, enthusiasm and joy through prayer, study and work. There was much to pray for since they were very concerned about the situation and how it was affect- ing the people of Saipan. Soon the situation eased a bit and they were allowed to go out, however, this period lasted until March of 1944, when the army occupied the houses of both the priests and the sisters. The missionaries were left in the village. After bringing some of their possessions to Remedios’ house, they moved across the mountain to Fananagan – never knowing this would be for only one month. The next month the military moved the community to Chalan Galaide where they stayed for two months and where they had the protection of a small underground shelter 100 meters from the house. The bombing by the Americans began on June 11, 1944. Sr. Angelica writes: “ All of a sudden bombs were exploding all around us and a shower of bullets and shrapnel was falling on the roof. Since we were unable to reach the shelter, we covered ourselves with mattresses…” The battle went on daily from dawn to nightfall, yet in the midst of this, they saw evidence of God’s protection. An idea of what they were suffering – polluted air, cramped space, scorching heat, nearly unbearable thirst – comes from a sentence of Sr. Genoveva: “ The time we have spent in the cave, we won’t have to spend in purgatory!”
The police made the sisters, and the Jesuits–Fr. Tardio and Brother Oroquieta leave the shelter on June 18th and they went to Mt. Tapochau. They walked at night because in the midst of the daylight bombing, it was impossible to move. They were left in the open, in the midst of fires. All day long they lay face down on the ground with guns being fired over their heads. A bomb landed beside Brother Oroquieta, but it didn’t explode. That night, the soldiers came to see if they had been killed and were surprised to find them alive.
The danger of this place was apparent, so they started out for Talafofo – in the midst of a fire storm. Bombs began falling around them, one struck a gasoline truck and the mountain went up in flames. In this place, Sr. Angelica was struck by a bullet that exited through her back. She writes: “I felt myself bleeding and not knowing if it was a fatal wound, I asked Father for absolution and prepared to die.” Meanwhile Sr. Genoveva had been lying on a mat since she was weak and had a bad heart. The fire was approaching them and Remedios called to her to leave but she did not respond. She was dead. There was no choice but to leave her there due to the bombs and flames. When they returned the next day for her body, it was gone. In all likelihood, her body was burned along with many other bodies of the dead.
After this, the police took all the missionaries to Kalabera where they were placed in a shed. From here, Remedios asked the commanding officer permission to bring the nuns to her family farm in Marpi. The police tried to discourage her in this, but
she stood firm. Together they made their way to Marpi asking directions along the way. It was a long and difficult trip, but by the grace of God and with the help of Remedios and people along the way, they finally arrived – they were saved!
The continuous movement from one place to another during the time period June 18-30th took its’ toll on the sisters. These moves were especially difficult for Sr. Angelica who was wounded. She writes:” How I could have walked so much, with the constant gymnastics of falling on the ground and getting up again, I really don’t know. The only thing that is very clear is that nothing is impossible for God…” At the farm of Remedios’ father, they were received and cared for. There were many caves in the area occupied by Chamorros and once they were settled, Remedios went looking among the people for a nurse. With medicines obtained from a wounded Japanese official, the nurse was able to treat Angelica’s infection and she soon recovered. Remedios was a god send for the nuns. She brought them to the farm, searched for food and water, gave them sugar cane for relief and dealt with the police. She gave all she could to help them survive.
According to all accounts, the worst problem was the thirst they suffered during the final days. In their words: “ We were dying of thirst… After a month of not enough liquids, our throats were so dry that there were days when we couldn’t swal- low our food.” Water was their first request when the American soldiers found them. In the American battalion, there was a Catholic chaplain attending the wounded and dead. He came to the sisters and began to bless them, but was so overcome with emotion he couldn’t continue. You see, everyone thought they had died! That afternoon they were taken together with all the people found, to the concentration camp in Susupe. Over the radio, the people already in the camp heard the news that the missionaries were alive. The reception they received was overwhelming: “ Three thousand people were waiting for us, yelling, waving handkerchiefs, crying for joy….” The Marine colonel who was commander of the camp was so impressed by the welcome the missionaries received that he turned to the Sisters and said, “ These are your people.” The sisters remained in the camp until November when they were moved to another camp in Chalan Kanoa.
For the sisters, the worst part of the war didn’t last very long, but in just a few weeks, they suffered much. The long marches up and down mountains, continually being placed in dangerous situations – in open spaces, in burning areas, with anti-aircraft guns over their heads and ammunition stored close to their shack – on every side and yet, through it all, they emerged unharmed. How did they “see” these situations? Their reading of the events is admirable for they saw them through their lived experience of faith, with complete trust in God’s care for them – God who protected and saved them from all danger. In the words of Sr. Angelica: “ I cannot help but ask myself: Can our in- tellects ever comprehend the magnitude of the gifts of protection, love, gentleness and tenderness that God, our Father, showered on us during the time of war? Can we ever find words to adequately express our thanks? I cannot. I can only say: I shall forever praise the loving kindness of the Lord. Thank you, Father!” And the Dream continued….
to be continued . . .
