Sisters return Philippine artifact to Philippine Consul General The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community this month returned an artifact from the Philippine-American War to the Philippines. Two bells mounted on a wooden block with handles mysteriously had made their way to the archives in Omaha. On Oct. 8, West Midwest President Sister Judith Frikker presented Philippine Consul General of Chicago, Leo M. Herrera-Lim, with the artifact that was discovered during a review of the Sisters of Mercy archives. The ceremony took place at the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community office in Omaha. Accompanying the Consul General was his spouse, Fidelis. L-R: Sister Kathy Thornton, Sister Judith Frikker, Monte Kniffen, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, Fidelis HerreraLim, Sister Sheila Megley
Mercy Senior Archivist Monte Kniffen found the bells while cataloguing items in the archives this July. “We are not sure how the item came to Sisters of Mercy,” he said. “It was sent to Omaha from a convent in Red Bluff, Calif. We have not been able to determine how it initially arrived there.” The inscription on the bells reads: “Taken from the Church of Meycauayan, Luzson Island, P.I. after bombardment by Utah Battery March 29, 1899 by P.O. Thomas, Co. A. Battalion of Engineers.” The Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection from 1899 to 1902 was a struggle for sovereignty that the Philippines had anticipated after the Spanish American War. Instead the U.S. and Filipino forces battled each other. About 200,000 Filipinos died during the war. Monte was aware that the Philippine government was interested in bringing home artifacts taken during the war. He emailed Consul General Herrera-Lim and got a quick response. "We tried to hide our exuberance," Herrera-Lim joked to the sisters during the presentation. The ceremony was a step toward healing a painful time in the history of the U.S. and the Philippines. “I am very much humbled to receive on behalf of a grateful nation, the bells of Meycauayan Church at the month that we are celebrating Philippine-American History Month,” said Herrera-Lim. “We have the opportunity to reflect on the unfortunate episode in our history and renew the ties that binds our peoples. I thank the Sisters of Mercy for being God’s instruments of peace and healing.” “We are pleased to return this treasure to the Philippine government,” said Sister Judith. “Our hearts are heavy knowing the loss that this piece represents, and we pray for an end to all war. We appreciate the visit by Consul General Herrera-Lim to retrieve these bells. On behalf of the Sisters of Mercy, I extend our Mercy hospitality to Mr. and Mrs. Herrera-Lim and pray for God’s blessing on them and their country.” The Consul General said he would give the artifact to the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila. Researchers there will try to track down more information about where the bells came from and where they went. He promised to share what he had learned and tomake replicas of the bells for his office and for the Sisters of Mercy.
7 Mercy Connection • October/November 2011