[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1569-E1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO SISTER MARIA DOLORES BORJA, SISTER MARY ROBERTA TAITAMO, 
            SISTER MARY DAMIEN, AND SISTER TRINI PANGELINAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor four truly 
outstanding women from Guam on the occasion of their 50th and silver 
anniversaries as Religious Sisters of Mercy. Sister Maria Dolores 
Borja, Sister Mary Roberta Taitano, Sister Mary Damien, and Sister 
Trini Pangelinan have demonstrated through a lifetime of service to the 
community the meaning of good citizenship and selfless

[[Page E1570]]

service. With gratitude and thanks I congratulate these Sisters of 
Mercy on their 50th and silver anniversaries.
  Sister Maria Dolores Borja was born in Sumay, Guam, to Jose and Maria 
Soledad Sablan Borja. With a nursing degree from the Mercy School of 
Nursing, Sister Maria Dolores spent 15 years as a hall supervisor at 
Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC, and over 26 years at St. Joseph's 
Hospital. She later returned to Guam to take care of her godson and has 
since been working with the archbishop on archdiocesan projects. In 
addition to her work with the archdiocese, she has been actively 
involved with Catholic Daughters of America, the Catholic pro-life 
organization, Lina'la' Sin Casino, Health Care Service, and Guam 
Memorial Hospital. Her life has always reflected her motto of ``Fiat 
Voluntas Tua''--Your Will Be Done--and continues to demonstrate her 
strong faith.
  Sister Mary Roberta Taitano, the daughter of Francisco Watkins and 
Tomasa Capeda Mateo, began her service as a Sister of Mercy in 1947 
when she was received as a novice, along with Sister Maria Dolores in 
the historic Reception Ceremony at the Agana Cathedral. As a former 
English major at the Regis College in Massachusetts, Sister Mary 
Roberta has always had a strong interest in the welfare of children. 
She has served as a teacher at St. Anthony School and as principal at 
Cathedral Grade School and the Academy of Our Lady of Guam. Currently, 
she is the administrator of Mercy Heights Nursery and Kindergarten in 
Perezville.
  Sister Mary Damien Terlaje shares Sister Mary Roberta Taitamo's love 
of children. One of the 11 children of the late Francisco Terlaje and 
the late Maria Terlaje, Sister Mary Damien Terlaje entered the Sisters 
of Mercy in 1946. She has taught at the Cathedral Grade School in 
Agana, the St. Anthony School, and most recently, at the Santa Barbara 
School. Sister Mary Damien Terlaje has also been involved in nursing 
work at the Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC, and is currently serving 
at the Infant of Prague Nursery in Tai. Despite her many years of 
service to the church and her great contributions, she still prescribes 
to the prayer ``Lord, I Am Not Worthy,'' a motto indicative of her 
humility and dedication.
  Lastly, I'd like to congratulate Sister Trini Pangelinan on her 
silver anniversary as a Sister of Mercy. The daughter of Jose and Maria 
Pangelinan, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1964. Sister Trini 
Pangelinan holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Guam and a 
master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at 
Chapel Hill. With her training, she has been able to serve the Guam 
community in many ways. She has worked for the archdiocesan family and 
the Youth Ministry, served as the director of incorporation for the 
Sisters of Mercy, chaired the Social Justice Committee and 
Communications Team, served as co-spiritual director for the Couples 
for Christ movements, and helped found the Rainbows for All God's 
Children Program. Through all her services, her motto remains ``Glory 
To the Trinity.''
  Once again, I stand to acknowledge the great contributions these four 
Sisters of Mercy have made to the welfare of not only Guam but also the 
United States. It is truly an honor for me to recognize these four 
Chamorro women on the occasion of their 50th and silver anniversary in 
the religious life.

                          ____________________