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S. MARIA BERNARDITA VERANGA ZATARAIN, RVM
(February 13, 1938 – March 16, 2021)
S. Maria Bernardita Veranga Zatarain, who hailed from Atimonan, Quezon, was the youngest of four children (3 boys and a girl) of Julian Zatarain and Paulina Veranga both from the same town. At 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon of February 13, 1938, while a procession was going on in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes in a street parallel to the road across her parents’ home, a baby girl was born. Her father, Julian, named her Bernardita after St. Bernadette Soubirous. She received the sacraments of baptism on May 13, 1938 and confirmation in 1940. The young Bernardita and her siblings belonged to the second nuptial of her father. She has three (3) Sisters and two (2) brothers from her father’s first nuptial. Bernardita, being the youngest in the family, received so much love and attention from her parents and siblings.
Her parents were devoted Catholics, especially her mother, who taught her the basic prayers. Praying the Rosary and Angelus was part of the family’s daily schedule. S. Maria Bernardita fondly remembered her father’s gentle disciplinary way in dealing with his children, his kindness, generosity, charitable deeds and great love for the poor. She also recalled that every night she would help her father in closing the brown paper bags filled with one kilo of sugar, rice, and salt to be given the next day to anyone who knocks at their door. Her mother’s deep faith, piety, and virtuous life were equally remarkable.
She took her primary education at the Holy Angels Academy administered by the Franciscan Sisters, who played a significant role in her spiritual growth as a child. However, the war caused the Franciscan Sisters to leave the place, and so, the young Bernardita had to continue her intermediate education at Atimonan Elementary School. She was in grade 5 when she was asked by her father about her plans and she immediately responded that she wanted to serve God. Her father, meanwhile, took it as a joke since his beloved daughter was still very young then. In high school, Bernardita again asked permission from her father to enter religious life, but was not allowed until his eventual death on February 20, 1951. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and was unable to immediately proceed to college education. For two years, she spent time serving the Parish as a Legion of Mary, visiting the sick with the other members, as well as pursuing other activities related to people’s conversion. These experiences nurtured her call to religious life.
During her discernment period, through the advice of her spiritual director, she offered a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Mother of Perpetual Help, and the Holy Spirit. She also asked for the intercessions of St. Joseph and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, from whom she asked for a flower as a sign that God called her. Fortunately, on the ninth day of her novena, she received flowers from her friend. For a while, she forgot that she asked for such sign until she realized that she prayed for it.
She did not cease praying for her mother’s approval of her desire. Her mother, on the other hand, would encourage her to join parties and enjoy with her cousins and friends. S. Maria Bernardita recounted that in the midst of rejoicing, there was a silent voice calling her. To distract her attention, she was offered a grant from her aunt to enroll in a Medical Course in Manila since Bernardita dreamed to become a Doctor.
However, God’s call became intense and she was moved to gradually express her desire to her mother. And with the help of a priest, who explained about religious life, her mother eventually conceded to her plan. Her sister in-law helped her formulate the application letter to the Religious of the Virgin Mary.
She entered postulancy on February 01, 1957 at St. Mary’s College, Quezon City; noviceship on August 14, 1957. She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on August 15, 1959 and her Final Vows on May 31, 1965. She joyfully celebrated her Silver Jubilee on August 15, 1984, Golden Jubilee on August 15, 2009 and Diamond Jubilee on August 15, 2019.
She participated in the mission of Christ and of the Church through the Congregation as a Teacher, Prefect of Boarders, Procurator, High School Principal, Directress, Local Superior, Acting Superintendent of Schools. She regularly gave lectures, seminars, and retreats on “Ugnayang-Loob” to people of all walks of life. She also gave lectures on organizing Cooperatives and Cooperative Education. In fact, she is best remembered at St. Mary’s College, Quezon City as having laid the foundations of a Cooperative that has remained functional up to the present.
She was the Regional Superior of Southern Mindanao from 2001 to 2004 and the first appointed Provincial Superior of the then newly established Southern Mindanao Province on May 31, 2004 to December 2009. After her term of office, she devoted her time as Provincial and Local Coordinator of the Mother Ignacia Movement. S. Maria Bernardita may have not become a medical Doctor, but she took active participation in the healing ministry of Jesus through the intercession of Mother Ignacia, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, with her particular devotion to her as Rosa Mystica. She was able to alleviate the pain of the sick both physically and spiritually through her gift of healing and listening. Thus, former students often visited her wherever she was assigned and they were generous of their time and resources to the advocacies of S. Berns. Some lay partners also shared how they were blessed with the motherly care of S. Berns, how she allowed them to grow through their studies and job opportunities.
S. Maria Bernardita loved poetry and song composition. She wrote a number of poems and composed songs of gratitude. Her several compositions on Mother Ignacia, with music by S. Maria Editha Roa, are part of her remarkable legacy to the Congregation. Her great devotion to Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was expressed in beautiful songs.
She recounted that the peak moment of her life was when she was called to stay at St. Joseph Home. She accepted it with grateful heart as she was inspired everyday to write her reflections on God’s blessings through poetry. She had become more contemplative, drawn closer to the Lord each day. It was in St. Joseph Home that she entrusted everything to God and wished to enjoy eternal bliss when the final call is heard and she would say God’s will be done. Gratitude in heart was expressed in these words:
“My heart is full of gratitude
for your great love for me
Thank you my loving God. . .
for your compassion and mercy
For the many acts of unfaithfulness
I have done to you my God
You are always there to rescue me
to embrace me with boundless love.
My heart sings songs of gratitude
I will never cease to do so
because you are my love, my beloved
who never abandons me. . .
Thank you, my God, my love, my faithful one
Make me ever faithful
in following you my God
No matter how rough and difficult the journey”.
S. Maria Bernardita suffered stage 4 breast cancer for five (5) years. In the early hour of the morning at 3:02 of March 16, 2021, she heard the final call of God and peacefully surrendered to the will of her loving Creator.
Thank you, S. Berns, for having lived a joyful and grateful heart for eighty-three years and sixty-one years of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary.
Your favorite saying, “Smile awhile and while you smile another smiles and soon there will be miles and miles of smile and life is worthwhile because you smile”, was given flesh in your life, S. Berns. You radiated joy in your face amidst life’s challenges. Your life was not a bed of roses, you passed through life’s thorns but you continued to endure the pain with your grateful, joyful, kind, humble, charitable, and generous heart. You have indeed touched the lives of countless students, friends, personnel, fellow Sisters and your family circle as well. With your passion for “Ugnayang-Loob”, “pinag-ugnay po ninyo ang Kalooban ng Diyos at ang kalooban ng mga taong inyong nakasalamuha.” You had been an apostle of love and peace.
May Jesus, in His Sacred Heart, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Bernadette, and Mother Ignacia welcome you with great joy. May everlasting peace and eternal bliss enfold your beautiful soul. Farewell, our dear S. Berns. We love you!
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Bernardita, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
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