Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Havana (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana (Cuba), stated in an interview with the magazine “Encuentro Digital,” that John Paul II’s visit to Cuba became “a fresh starting point on the path of faith for Cubans.” According to the Cardinal, “the Church, on that occasion, showed the Cuban people and the world that it was alive, capable of preparing that visit with pains-taking care, of welcoming the Pope with devotion and overwhelming enthusiasm, and of gratefully receiving his message and teachings.”
Moreover the Holy Father’s visit “was not simply a fleeting moment in our history; it was a seed that was planted and that has borne fruits.” In fact, the Church took her mission more seriously and since then, fruits have begun to appear. For example, the Cardinal of Cuba says, “we had been unable to build new Churches for many years, however in recent years, we have begun to repair or completely re-build the Churches in deteriorating conditions.” As well, in various neighborhoods, rural areas, and settlements, where before there was no place for worship, centers have been opened where “communities of 30 or 40 or more come together to read the Word of God and reflect on it, there are catechism classes for those receiving sacraments of Christian initiation, as well as for children and adolescents. Little by little, Christian communities are forming.” In communities like these, sacramental celebrations of Baptisms and the Eucharist can only be celebrated a few times a year, “as in the Archdiocese of Havana, there are over 500 mission houses and 210 Churches, with only 100 diocesan and religious priests to attend to them.” The mission houses are often under the care of lay missionaries, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, “and we try our best to train catechists from among the local community, so as to better understand the people.” The Cardinal said that this is one of the Church’s fruits from the Pope’s visit.
Also, Caritas, “in service programs, works in favor of the elderly, of the sick, or of the needy, in emergency situations due to weather patterns, and in many other areas, has organized service and has made considerable progress since the Pope’s visit.” Another fruit has been, “the gradual appearance of publications on a variety of topics,” including material issued by the John Paul II Bioethics Center in Havana, or the monthly magazine “Signis,” on the cinema and media, in addition to the other numerous magazines from all the dioceses.
Vocations to the priesthood have also augmented. “There are currently 80 young men preparing for the priesthood in all Cuba,” the Cardinal said. In addition, “in Havana, there is a new National Seminary being built. The women’s religious communities have also seen an increase in vocations.” Above all, the Archbishop of Havana insists, there has been, “a growth and deepening of the need for evangelization.”
In regards to the most serious difficulties for the Church in Cuba, the Cardinal especially noted, “secularism, which creates religious indifference, especially in a country that has been heavily influenced by the state of atheism.” Another problem arises from the lack of personnel and pastoral resources in order to carry larger tasks in the Church. Moreover, the Cardinal said, the Church “has no schools nor does it have habitual access to the communications media.” The Church also worries about the “lack of commitment on the part of young people today, in all areas, but especially in the area of faith.”
The Cardinal concluded the interview with a firm statement saying that the Churches of Latin America should help each other mutually, according to the spirit of Aparecida. “Mutual support should be in our prayer, in the mission, which is nothing more than Christian Love made a part of everyday living.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2008; righe 49, parole 628)
