Sister Raphael, 34
p. 36 · Read in the full issue
years in the GEIC
A veteran of the GEIC is Sister Mary Raphael, teacher with the Sacred Heart Mission, in her 34th year in the colony. She arrived in the GEIC in 1936, and has spent 12 years at Abaiang, eight years at Butaritari and five years at North Tabiteuea with shorter stints at Marakei, Nonouti, Abemama and Maiana in the central and northern Gilberts.
Twenty-one Australian sisters are now working with the mission in the Gilberts. With several other sisters and Catholic priests, Sister Raphael was assumed dead for about eight months in 1942-43 during the Jap ance occupation of the Gilberts. All were thought to have died in the Jap anese execution of 25 Europeans on Betio, but in fact only one missionary, a London Missionary Society pastor, the Rev. Saad, died.