“For putting their individual talents at the service of country and people” The Cassandra Martyrs (+1983, Philippines)

Shepherding has taken many forms in the history of the Good Shepherd Sisters. In the Philippines, on November 21, 1983, it was shepherding in a shipwreck. Four heroic nuns from the Religious of the Good Shepherd saved several lives during a shipwreck and died in the process.

The four nuns were collectively known as the Cassandra Martyrs after their heroic deeds during the MV Doña Cassandra ferry tragedy on November 20, 1983. The four boarded the ferry from a port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to attend their congregation’s meeting in Cebu along with two other nuns, a priest, and several church workers. Despite the stormy seas caused by a typhoon, the inter-island ferry, which was allegedly overloaded, still set sail for Cebu.

On the morning of November 21, the sisters saw the ship’s crew bailing water out of the hull. Despite the crew’s insistence that there was nothing wrong with the ferry, the sisters alerted passengers about what they saw. It was not long before the boat started to capsize.

The sisters wasted no time. They shepherded the passengers by giving out life jackets, though the four sisters did not have any safety gear for themselves. They also led many passengers to the safety of the life rafts.

The four sisters continued to help other passengers, especially the children, until the ferry completely sank. Survivors say that they last saw the four nuns holding small children before they drowned in the shark-infested waters off Northeastern Mindanao. Until the end, the four sisters showed selfless love and the desire to save lives.

The four nuns were known not only for laying down their lives for others during the shipwreck, but for their individual advocacies in fostering inter-faith dialogues, education, and justice for the victims of human rights abuses during the Marcos regime.

Sr. Mary Consuelo Chuidian

Sr. Mary Consuelo Chuidian, 46, was the superior of the St. Bridget’s community in Davao. She fearlessly documented human rights violations during the Marcos regime. She also led a movement against President Marcos, with the poor, oppressed and exploited Davaoeños supporting her. She chaired the Women’s Alliance for True Change, was coordinator of the Rural Missionaries for Southern Mindanao, and was active in the associations of women religious in Davao and Mindanao. Her leadership inspired her community to be open to victims of every kind, especially those of Martial Law.

Sr. Mary Concepcion Conti

Sr. Mary Concepcion Conti, 46, was a member of the Davao Community. She organized and headed the Community-Based Health Program in the Diocese of Tagum. She sought to train rural health workers, thus empowering them to attend to the basic health needs of the poor. She chose education as her way of helping people. She spearheaded literacy programs for the Banwaan Manobos of Agusan.

Sr. Mary Virginia Gonzaga

Despite coming from an affluent family, 42-year-old Sr. Mary Virginia Gonzaga chose to join the religious life. She fought for the rights of poor people and small workers in Cebu and supported interfaith dialogues between Christians and Muslims. She was the superior of the Sapad Community in Lanao del Norte. She had organized the Young Christian Workers in her home city and later, as a religious, worked among slum dwellers and migrant workers before she went to the Sapad mission among Christians and Muslims.

Sr. Mary Catherine Loreto

Sr. Mary Catherine Loreto, 39, was the youngest of the four nuns. She joined the campaign to protect the rights of political detainees and also helped the families of desaparecidos (victims of forced disappearances) during the Marcos regime. Hers was the most difficult challenge of standing up for those harassed by the military and their families, with the risk of herself falling under suspicion.

Different organizations recognized the sisters’ zeal and martyrdom, most notably by the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation founded by former Senate president Jovito Salonga. In inscribing their names on the “Wall of Remembrance” for heroes during the Martial Law era, the citation read:

“For contributing to the protest movement against the Marcos dictatorship and human rights abuses, as street parliamentarians and religious superiors heading and implementing education, health, rehabilitation and justice programs, both through legal and extra-legal means;

“For leaving the safety and comfort of home and convent to work as rural missionaries among poor farmers, indigenous peoples and Muslims in remote areas of Mindanao, thus becoming active witnesses to the Church’s mission to serve the poor, deprived and oppressed at the height of state repression of the Church;

“For putting their individual talents at the service of country and people.”

Sr. Marcia Caridad Mercado of the Religious of the Good Shepherd Sisters Philippines said that the Vatican has requested for documents related to the heroism of the Cassandra Martyrs to facilitate their possible beatification.