“Precious in the Eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Faithful”

Rev. Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart (Jovina Isabel E. Saavedra), of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD), Prioress of the Carmel of St. Teresa of Jesus in Mati City, Davao Oriental, returned home to the Father last January 7, 2014 at about 9:25 PM at the age of 90. Her passing away was so sudden and yet so peaceful.

A two-day wake was followed by a beautiful, soulful funeral liturgy and burial ceremony on January 10, 2014, presided over by Most Rev. Patricio H. Alo, D.D. and many priest-concelebrants, while a huge throng of friends, relatives from far Zamboanga, neighboring folks, benefactors and acquaintances somehow demonstrated how many people Mother Mary had touched during her lifetime.

The former Prioress was born on March 2, 1923 in Isabela, Basilan, the 12th child of Dorotheo Saavedra and Isabelita Escudero.  She was a school teacher from 1939 to 1947.  On September 12, 1947, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, she entered the Carmelite Monastery of Davao at the age of 24, the first Filipina to enter the monastery.  On March 19, 1948, she was clothed with the habit of Carmel and on March 25, 1949, made her First Profession of Vows.

The Davao Carmelite Monastery was originally a temporary house situated in Bankerohan (site of UIC at present) till 1954, when the Carmelite sisters transferred to their new monastery in Bajada, Davao City.

In 1987, in thanksgiving for the 40th Foundation Anniversary of Davao Carmel, another foundation was established in the newly erected Diocese of Mati upon the request of Bishop Alo, the first bishop of Mati.  Mother Mary as co-foundress then accompanied Rev. Mother Marie Susan of Jesus, the foundress of the monastery.

On April 19, 2009, on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Anunciation and her Diamond Jubilee of Religious Profession, Mother Mary, along with her family, the community, friends, benefactors, religious and priest concelebrants, joyfully thanked the Lord during the Concelebrated Holy Eucharist for the endless outpouring of God’s blessings.

November 21, 2012 witnessed Mati Carmel’s year-long celebration of its 25th Founding Anniversary with plenary-indulgenced pilgrimages. Four months later on March 2, 2013, a grand tribute to Mother Mary was prepared by the Carmelite Nuns of Mati for her 90th Birthday, as she continued to serve the community as Prioress and Mistress of Novices.

 Mother Mary was a rare treasure of great price, precious in the eyes of the Lord.  She always inspired us by the way she practiced the virtues, especially her mortification and self-sacrifice.  Simplicity and abandonment to God’s Will and her strong faith in God’s Providence were very evident until the end of her life. We miss Mother Mary’s physical presence. But she is more powerful now in her intercessions for us.  She knows that we love her and she loves us very much to forever.  We were looking forward to celebrating her 91st birthday and 65thAnniversary of Profession this year but God had other plans.  He granted her desire—of seeing her Lord face to face—and so serenely did she depart to enter her heavenly home.