Columban Sisters celebrate 50 years in Peru

Celebration to mark the Opening of the Golden Jubilee Year

of the Columban Sisters Presence in Peru

Columban Sisters Mary Neylon writes from Lima, Peru

The 17 October past marked the Opening of the Golden Jubilee Year of the Columban Sisters presence in Peru. We gathered in our Central House in Sol de Oro, Lima, and celebrated with a special Mass of Thanksgiving – “A time to Remember”.

Symbols of key moments on this journey were presented at the Offertory:

A Photo Album of our First Sisters missioned in Peru: Joan O’Donovan, Vicky Ryan, Maura Ryan (R.I.P), Joan Casey (former member); “The History of Columban Sisters in Peru” by Sister Ana Marie Mulqueeney; the influence of the ”Theology of Liberation” by Gustavo Gutierrez, the death of Sister Joan Sawyer and last but not least, our first Peruvian Sisters.

We offered our Peru Mission Statement of 2004, acknowledging how we have been enriched by the spirituality and culture of Peru and expressing our commitment to continue inserting ourselves in this reality.  This was followed by a delicious meal and an enjoyable time together.

The various symbols before the altar

The various symbols before the altar

During the year we hope to have some Gatherings in our local places and the main Celebration in Lima on November 11, 2012.

After that wonderful and very meaningful time together, we scattered , returning again to our communities in  – Ayacucho, Ica, Canto Grande, Independencia, San Martin de Porres, Huaycán, Sol de Oro, where we are involved in a variety of ministries.

50th Anniversary Posters by Sister Erisa Lee "Journeying with the People of Peru"

50th Anniversary Posters by Sister Erisa Lee “Journeying with the People of Peru”

And Sister Mary adds other interesting items of interest too:

° Eileen Rabbitte, Ica:  “We are all well in spite of the strong shake we had just as we were finishing my birthday lunch (Oct.28).  Thank God there were no casualties from the earthquake, but some people, especially  in the ‘chacras’ lost houses of adobe.  President Humala and the First Lady came direct from Paraguay to survey the damage, and that was a good move and greatly appreciated.  This is a very busy time for us with First Holy Communion and Confirmation coming up.  Then we have the Novena for San Martin. “

° The 40th Anniversary of the  publication of ‘Theology of Liberation’ by Gustavo Gutierrez was celebrated  on October 18 at the Jesuit University Antonio Ruiz de Montoya. Being  a very significant event, there was much interest in it, so luckily Joanna Krupa and I managed to get into the packed hall. The vitality and presence of Gustavo were most impressive.  The key element in the ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’ of that theology, he said, had been, and continues to be, ‘compassionate closeness and love’. 

To know more about the Columban Sisters Mission in Peru copy the following link to your borwser: http://www.columbanas.org

If you would like to know more about the Columban Sisters:
E-mail us : weboffice@columbansisters.org