MY deepest sympathy for the loss of our last Spanish Mercedarian missionary on Saipan, Sister Immaculada Ochoa de Retana. Today, coincidentally I was reading the book of Saipan on WWII and looking at the pictures of the nuns with their soiled white habits: Sister Maria Angelica Salaberia, Sr. Maria Teresa Cortaza, Sr. Mercedez Gonzales and Sr. Joaquina Revuelta.
I still recall those Mercedarian sisters who suffered hunger, thirst and exhaustion walking through the hillsides long distance through rough roads during the invasion to reach the north end in Marpi. We tried to comfort them and offered our hiding cave, so they could rest safely. They sacrificed their lives for the people of Saipan.
On behalf of the people of Saipan and the Marianas, we extend our magnificent gratitude to the Mercedarian Missionary Institute for the first Spanish missionaries and for their long years of service since 1928.
Early yesterday morning (March 21) the Father called home our oldest sister in the community, Sr. Immaculata Ochoa-Retana (Macu). She left us peacefully after a brief hospitalization and a few days at home.
This Friday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the viewing will be here at Maturana from 8-10 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 and final internment at our Maturana Cemetery.
Please join us in praying for her eternal rest and consolation of all of our sisters throughout the Institute of the Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz, especially here in the Mission of Micronesia.
On behalf of the MMB Maturana Community and Sr. Maryann Hartmann, MMB,
MARIE S. CASTRO
Saipan, CNMI
