Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Havana (Agenzia Fides) - "Christmas helps us realise God's closeness, his love for all humanity and his desire for our happiness", the Catholic Bishops of Cuba said in a Christmas message issued on 12 December addressed to the priests, deacons, religious and faithful. "Christmas is also the celebration of hope because it is the celebration of life…it is the event of a birth, a new life". Because God became man "human life acquires dignity and greatness".
Christmas is also a family celebration and the Bishops of Cuba recall that it is ten years since Christmas Day was put back on the calendar of national holidays in Cuba. "The absence for almost three decades of national celebrations for Christmas and other varied obstacles, robbed a whole generation of the religious and human sense connected with this recurrence" the Bishops affirm. However they note “growing interest among individuals and families to celebrate Christmas and this reveals a hidden longing in the soul of our country”. It was the Servant of God John Paul II, "who gave voice to this desire of our people and our Church and urged the Cuban government to re-establish Christmas as a national holiday ”.
Ten years since John Paul II's visit to Cuba “a blessing for all”, the Bishops cited his words: 'The time has come to take new paths, demanded by the times of renewal in which we live'. Words which acquire deep significance today “as Cubans expect so much from the transformation of national life, because for many years oppressive difficulties have accumulated”. As part of the country the Catholic Church in Cuba “shares these expectations and offers her prayers and help to find real and effective solutions to put the country on the path of hope”.
The Bishops conclude their Christmas message recalling three important events in 2008: in February a visit by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope's Secretary of State; the start of three years of celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the rediscovery of the image of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, to whom Cuba is dedicated, to culminate with a Jubilee Year in 2012; at the end of 2008 the Beatification, in Camagüey, of Fr Olallo of the St John of God Hospitaller Brothers, born in Cuba who spent 54 years of his life in Camagüey caring for the sick, the poor and the needy. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2007; righe 32, parole 477)
