Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santa Clara (Agenzia Fides) - “Santa Clara, the city that on January 22, 1998, witnessed the celebration of John Paul II’s first Mass in Cuba, dedicated to the family, where the Messenger of Truth and Hope invited the entire nation: ‘Cuba, protect your families so that you may maintain your healthy heart,’ awoke this Saturday, February 23 to 100s of people who embarked on a religious pilgrimage from numerous towns from across the Diocese, including Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Cienfuegos, Ciego de Avila, Matanzas, and Camaguey, to celebrate the 10 years’ anniversary of those unforgettable days, in the presence of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB, Secretary of State of the Holy See.” These were the words of Fr. Raul Rodriguez, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies in Cuba, in a report sent to Fides, recounting the act that took place on Saturday, February 23, in the inauguration of the monument of the Servant of God John Paul II, commemorating the 10th anniversary of his visit to the country.
Fr. Raul said that there was a welcoming ceremony at the site, for the traveling image of the Virgin of Charity. The image had been, at the end of 1996, offered to Bishop Fernando Prego of Santa Clara, by a Catholic family, in order to send it to all the corners of the Diocese, in preparation for the Visit of Pope John Paul II to the city of Santa Clara. “This image attracted and brought together many people during the months of 1997, and everyone began to call her “the pilgrim Virgin.” Before this image, Pope John Paul II prayed, on January 22, 1998.
Moments prior to the beginning of the Mass in the Convent of the Servant Sisters of Jesus, Cardinal Bertone spoke to the deacons, priests, and bishops present, transmitting the closeness of Pope Benedict XVI, commenting that before his trip to the country, he had gone to pray before the tomb of John Paul II, for the entire Church and the Cuban people. He also relayed, “the greeting and affection of the Pope for all the places in this Diocese.” Bishop Arturo Gonzalez Amador, second Bishop of Santa Clara recalled, at the start of the celebration, those unforgettable moments of January 1998 and prayed for the entire Cuban family, “for those present, for those who had remained in their homes and had been unable to make the pilgrimage to the site for various reasons, and for the children of this land, who for many reasons are dispersed throughout the world.”
The celebration was attended by 206 acolytes, with a representation of communities from the entire Diocese. There was also a missionary sending of a group of children and teenagers of Missionary Childhood, who received the missionary cross from the Cardinal’s hand, sending them to preach the Gospel in their families, schools, and towns.
At the close of the celebration, Cardinal Bertone went up to the monument now erected on the site, in memory of the first Mass celebrated by John Paul II on Cuban ground, blessing it and praying before the statue of the Servant of God. The building of the monument began November 17 and has at its center, a statue of John Paul II. At its side, the words of the Servant of God read: “Open wide the doors to Christ.”
“The pilgrims left to return to their own towns, with the joy of someone who has been celebrating his faith, praying, and giving thanks for the blessings received, with a new vision of hope that one is left with after contemplating the statue of the Servant of God, that has many saying during these days, that Santa Clara is the Pope’s city in Cuba,” Fr. Raul Rodriguez concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/2/2008 righe 46, parole 620)
