Five hours south of the city of Lima and nestled in the middle of the coastal desert of Peru lies the pueblo of San Martín.  It was here on Sunday, May 6, 2007, that Sister Bridie Lough celebrated her Golden Jubilee. For the past 15 years Bridie has worked in this pueblo coordinating parish programs and being a caring presence for all who came to her in need. On May 6, the people showed their love and appreciation as they gathered together for her jubilee Mass and the party that followed. 

The Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Guido Breña Lopez, the Bishop of the Diocese of Ica, assisted by two Columban Fathers, Leo Donnelly and John O’Connell, both of whom are celebrating this year their Golden Anniversary of Ordination. Present also were the Columban Sisters who work in other parts of Peru and many sisters and friends from the Diocese of Ica whom Bridie has come to know over the years. But it was the people of San Martín who by their joyous and enthusiastic participation in the liturgy and the reception afterwards that made this jubilee such a wonderful celebration.

The singing at the Mass was led by the young peoples’ choir who every Sunday lead the singing at the Eucharistic celebrations. Members of the various parish groups did the Readings, the Prayers of the Faithful and presented the symbols and the gifts at the Offertory Procession.  At the homily time, Sister Eileen Rabbitte who has worked with Bridie in San Martín since the Columban Sisters first went there, shared a little about Bridie’s life and her vocation.  The Bishop thanked Bridie for her years of service in the diocese and spoke of her fifty years of total commitment to the Lord.

From the chapel the people walked across the recently constructed plaza to a building which from Monday to Friday is used as a soup kitchen.  But for this occasion it had been transformed with white and gold-colored cloth artistically arranged all around the walls.  When all had finally squeezed in, the second part of the celebration began.  There was music and dancing, many words of appreciation and tribute. There were gifts from the various parish groups and, of course, food served by the women of the parish.. But, finally, when night had already fallen, the party came to an end.

It was a memorable occasion made all the more special because it was truly a celebration of the pueblo giving thanks to one who had generously shared her life and her love with them.  And for Bridie, it was a giving-thanks to God who for fifty years had been faithful to her in the “ups and down” and in the “ins and outs” of life and who had led her in the second half of her life to the pueblo of San Martín nestled in the Peruvian desert.     

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