This year, the Colegio Flores de Oliva (CIFO) in Lima, Peru, celebrated its 75th anniversary. This comprehensive chronicle describes how the anniversary celebration unfolded.
On Sunday, August 17, we began the week celebrating the 75th anniversary with gratitude and joy. It was a celebration of life that invited us to look back on our history with grateful memories and to look forward to the future with hope.
Early in the morning, students, families, teachers, and a sizable number of alumni began arriving at the central courtyard, filling the school with life, memories, and reunions. At 10 a.m., we celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass, the heart and center of the entire celebration, presided over by Diocesan Father Miguel Carpio. Around 750 people participated in this celebration, a sign of the strength of a community that walks together.
The psalm, proclaiming, “You Lord, are my hope” became a common confession: God has been a rock and a refuge for this educational community for seven and a half decades. The Gospel, taken from Matthew (5:13-16), reminded us of our mission to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That Word illuminated the trajectory of the school: an institution that, inspired by the Teresian charism, seeks to form people capable of giving flavor and light to society with their lives, their faith, and their commitment.
The participation of students, teachers, families, and alumni turned the Mass into a true community celebration, grateful for the past and full of energy for the present. At the end, María Eugenia Gallego, school Principal, offered a toast inviting everyone to continue believing in the school as a place where the best of each person is cultivated, and where education is a seed of transformation and hope.
The morning was filled with color and rhythm: dances by elementary and secondary school students, a special performance by former students, and a tour of the facilities, where photographs, hugs, and shared memories retold the story of CIFO from the most heartfelt perspective.
History of the school
During the week, students studied the history of the school through educational sessions in tutorials. They learned about key figures such as Pedro Poveda, Josefa Segovia, Saint Rose of Lima, Purificación Jordá—the first Principal and a member of the Teresian Association—and Mariluz Gallardo, who sent an audio message recalling the school's beginnings. Hearing her voice reignited the certainty that the faith and audacity of a few made the educational dream that continues to bear fruit today possible. Throughout the week, the school's official social media accounts were filled with greetings from those who, at various times, were part of this history, thus joining in the grateful memory of the 75 years.
On Thursday, the 21st, we held a torchlight parade: a torrent of light, music, and joy filled the streets, accompanied by the batucada and the talent of the musical ensemble. The entire community moved and sang, remembering that the mission received is not to be kept secret for ourselves, but rather passed on from generation to generation, a fire that ignites new hearts.
On Friday, the 22nd, the Student Council (COES) led the celebration, preparing lively sports contest for all the students. At the closing ceremony, the school Principal encouraged everyone to continue building an increasingly humane and welcoming school, thanking so many whose commitment made this journey possible. The singing of “Happy Birthday” around the anniversary cake sealed this festive moment, and then this symbol of 75 years was shared with the entire educational community.
Alumni Reunion and Gala Dinner
Saturday, the 23rd, was the alumni's turn. That day, which brought together 160 participants, became a heartwarming occasion, filled with emotion and gratitude. Alumni from different eras reunited with their classmates, teachers, and the school that saw them grow up. There was singing, dancing, spontaneous joy, and the certainty that the bonds created during school life remain as deeply rooted as the foundations that sustain identity. Hearing the school anthem sung once again by so many voices together was one of the most moving moments of the entire celebration.
The week ended with a Gala Dinner for all staff, an occasion to give thanks, recognize, and celebrate together the shared mission that continues to make history.
Celebrating 75 years was not just about remembering, but also about renewing the conviction that personalized education and Teresian inspiration are a fruitful path for Peru and for the world. Colegio Isabel Flores de Oliva (CIFO) wants to continue to be a house of light and hope, a place where each person can grow in dignity, discover their calling in life, and commit themselves to the transformation of society.
This video captures more moments from the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Colegio Isabel Flores de Oliva in Peru.
Watch it here.
Teresian Association - Peru.
TA Translation Team.
Published in News