The Missionaries of the Precious Blood founded San Francisco de Borja School in Lima, Peru, in 1967, and this year marks the school’s 50th anniversary.
Members and staff spent last year planning the golden anniversary celebration, which began in February with a three-day retreat for the school staff led by Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S. The next event was a seminar led by employees from the Universidad Javeriana of Bogotá, Colombia and Perú. Other activities were focused on developing every aspect of the human person—spiritual, intellectual and physical—a key value of the school.
The school, at which many Missionaries have served, is committed to being an example of faith and missionary humility to students, staff and the community, adopting the vision of “forming [people] in and for the mission.” This vision was inspired by Jesus’s command, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to do all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28: 19–20). This command was followed by St. Gaspar del Buffalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, who took the Gospel to each place he went.
San Francisco de Borja seeks to train people in the mission of Jesus Christ through its educational efforts and activities in the community. Through academics, spiritual days, family days, the celebration of the Sacraments, and much more, students grow spiritually and intellectually. The school is committed to uphold the institutional values inspired by the spirituality of the Blood of Christ.
Fr. Alex Chasnamote, C.PP.S., in ministry at the school, says that he gives thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself to all of humanity, manifesting his great love by the spilling of his most Precious Blood. Fr. Chasnamote also gives thanks to St. Gaspar who “knew how to read the signs of the times” and to the school’s patron, St. Francisco Javier, and our Lady of the Precious Blood.
Fr. Chasnamote adds that he has the deepest respect for all the people who have served at San Francisco de Borja and will continue to serve it for many generations to come. They “left their footprints, their mark” upon the lives of others and “listened and responded to the Cry of the Blood, especially in those people who needed more. In this way, I believe, they contributed to the Church, to the world and to the construction of a more humane, just, fraternal and supportive society.”