Our beloved sister, Eufrasia Garcia, made her Final  Profession in style on March 30, 2008,  in El Espiritu Santo Church in Independencia, Lima,  Peru. The profession was presided over by Mons. Lino Panizzo, the bishop of the area.  The Columban director and Columban Fathers were present along with  priests and sisters from nearby parishes.  Also present were several of her companions  from the Course for Formators that Eusfrasia is attending in Lima. Great hospitality was given by  the parish priest of Espiritu Santo Parish, Padre  Edgar, and Sister Mary Mulcahy, planning everything as they did to the smallest detail.  The Buen Pastor choir led the singing  which was joyfully participated in by those who attended.    

Of course Eufrasia's  mother and her family sat in the front bench and one could see that they were as proud as peacocks.  Most of them traveled the long distance from Recuay the day before. 

In his homily the Bishop pointed out that we were celebrating a very unusual  event, that  of total consecration of one's life to God.  He spoke at some length about the vows which he said were not a confining factor but an opening up to something greater. He  gave as an example that  when two people get married  they usually have a small family  while a sister like Eufrasia can have “sons and daughters” all over the world, wherever she is missioned. 

But the ceremony didn´t end with the Mass.  Afterwards  the celebration continued under a big awning set up outside the Church.  The people sang and danced and  shared, what we might call, a high-class afternoon tea, while the sun shone down  in all its splendor.

As night fell Eufrasia´s family and all of us Columbans were invited to the Columban Sisters' house in Independencia where we had a more intimate sharing of the day´s events and a very tasty meal.