Maturana Sisters’s aid reaches close to $50K

Mercedarian Missionaries of Bérriz Sisters Maris Stella Ifenuk, second left, and Martha Ramarui hold the check donated to the Rotary Club of Saipan by the Saipan Fishermen Association. Others in photo, from left, are Saipan Rotary president Ivan Ilmov and former president Curtis Dancoe.
(Contributed Photo)

The money that would help rebuild the Maturana House of Prayer reached close to $50,000 with the Saipan Fishermen Association the latest group to donate to the Mercedarian Missionaries of Bérriz, which runs the facility in Navy Hill.

The House of Maturana hosts a lot of events and programs not only for Catholics but also for other Christian groups in the community. The facility also doubles as the retirement home for members of the Mercedarian Sisters in the CNMI.

The SFA donated $800 to the Rotary Club of Saipan, which is leading the efforts to repair and improve the facilities at House of Maturana that was damaged by Typhoon Soudelor last year. Sisters Maris Stella Ifenuk and Martha Ramarui were present to accept the check.

The check presentation was held during the Saipan Rotary Club’s meeting last July 12 at the Giovanni’s restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Saipan where Ifenuk and Ramarui have been regular guests since seeking the club’s help early this year.

The SFA collected the money from the raffle tickets sold in the banquet of the 32nd Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament held last July 10 and 11.

This brings the amount to a total of $49,400, not including the other monetary pledges and materials support made by other businesses, groups, and individuals. Northern Marianas Trades Institute carpentry and construction students will lend their skills in repairing the facilities.

Hyatt Regency donated $26,500 from the proceeds of its annual Saipan Charity Golf Classic last April, while the Guam Rotary Clubs (Rotary Club of Guam, Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, and the Rotary Club of Northern Guam) raised $16,500.

The Saipan Rotary has pledged $5,000 of the money collected in several of their fundraising events, while an additional $600 was given from a bet made by vice president Brian Clayton, who said that he would shave his head if the amount is raised impromptu.

The money was raised during their meeting held last May 17 with president Ivan Ilmov, former president Curtis Dancoe, Mike Dilly, Mike Sablan, Pete Schilling, and Mario Valentino donated $100 each.

The Rotary Club also collected $150 from its July 12 meeting that they gave to the Boy Scouts, which is being revived by Wayne Gillespie.

The Saipan Rotary is known to support various community events, in line with the international organization’s Service Above Self motto.

The Rotary International, behind president John F. Germ, is continuing the world’s efforts to eradicate polio in our lifetime. Germ also chose Rotary Serving Humanity as his theme for his term as head of one of the world’s biggest non-profit organizations.