Reverend Mother Maria Andrea Montejo was the 4th superior general of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, carrying the burden of authority for eighteen consecutive years. She was appointed by the Holy See in 1938 upon the resignation of Reverend Mother Maria Efigenia Alvarez. At the end of her first term she was confirmed for a second term without the ordinary election because of the state of emergency brought about by World War II. She was elected to the Office at the General Chapter of 1950. It was during her term of office that the membership to the Congregation grew considerably, and new mission houses were established in Samar, Cebu, Cotabato, Ligao, and in the suburbs of Manila.
Mother Andrea was born on November 1, 1894 to Felix Montejo and his wife, the second of their nine children. God blessed her with special gifts and talent which would be placed in the service of His glory. She learned her basic education at her home town of Palo, Leyte, and completed her secondary education in Tacloban. As was usual during her time, high school graduates had the capacity and qualification to teach, and she was employed successively at the public schools of Tacloban, Tanawan and Ormoc.
Responding to her vocation to the religious life, she was accepted to the Congregation during the administration of reverend Mother Efigenia Alvarez, and completed her initial formation with the profession of temporary vows on August 15, 1921. Immediately after profession she was missioned to reached at the Catholic School in Singalong, Manila, and later on was designated principal first in Sta. Cruz, laguna, then Ormoc, Leyte. She professed her perpetual vows on August 15, 1927. Between 1933 to 1938 Mother Andrea was the principal of St. Augustine School in Cagayan de Oro where she worked in close cooperation and association with Father James Hayes and Father John Kennaly, Jesuit missionaries who eventually became bishops; the former for the diocese of Cagayan de Oro, and the latter for the Carolines. St. Augustine School became eventually Lourdes College for girls, and Ateneo de Cagayan for boys. She is well remembered by the faithful in Cagayan de Oro for her zeal and industry, and became a very special partner of Archbishop Hayes in the mission. This relationship would pass the test of time so that when both of them were retired from active shepherding in their respective pastures, their thoughts for eternity were expressed in a mutual promise that whoever goes ahead will prepare a place for the other in eternity.
Mother Andrea's charge to assume the leadership of the Congregation followed the canonical visitation of the Most Reverend Luis del Rosario, SJ in 1937, and the consequent resignation of then superior general Mother Efigenia Alvarez. Mother Andrea was nominated by the Apostolic Visitator and Rome confirmed the choice with a decree of appointment effective June, 1938. During her incumbency the Congregation acquired the five hectares lot in Quezon City where the novitiate was moved from the parish in Paranaque, and eventually to become the complex of generalate, formation houses and retirement home of the Congregation at 214 North Domingo, Quezon City. She introduced the praying in common of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was also during her long term of office that modifications were introduced to the ceremonies for investiture, profession and jubilee celebrations. With this period also the Congregation received the definitive Pontifical Approbation of the Constitutions, and perpetually professed Sisters received the ring with the inscription "Ecce Ancilla Domini."
Mother Andrea stands out for her indomitable courage, trust in Divine Providence, concern and love for the Sisters, her admirable serenity during the crucial times of World War II. She is specially remembered by the Sisters during that period when she braved dangers, bad roads and other obstacles in order to bring food, medicine and consolation to the Sisters dispersed across the suburbs of Manila and neighboring Bulacan. There were times when she carried the provisions on her head, walking the roads and byways because there were no means of transpiration.
After her term of office in 1955 she was appointed the first regional superior for the Visayas (1953), and later to the region of Mindanao. In the 10th Ordinary General Chapter she was elected Vicar General and First Consultor General. With humility, diligence and deep trust in the Lord she performed the tasks laid upon her, in the spirit humble servanthood of Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. At the end of her elected term of office she devoted her time among the poor in Sapang Palay, ever the faithful, humble, self-abnegated and prayerful religious.
Mother Andrea's activities were cut short by an accident that confined her to a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Even in her bed of pain she was an apostle of gentleness and humility. The end came at midmorning of October 23, 1978. She was 84 years, 57 in religion.
