AMERICA/CUBA - Archdiocese of Havana launches a new website: “Like Paul, today we enter into the modern areopagus of the Internet, to preach this God who is always near and close to us.”

Havana (Agenzia Fides) - “It is with joy that we launch the website of the Archdiocese of San Cristobal de La Habana (Havana). It is not yet completely finished, however little by little we will continue improving it,” said Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino, Archbishop of Havana, in his words of welcome in launching the webpage of the Archdiocese.
As he explained, the motive behind launching the webpage, is “a quest for truth, not to seal it in a jar, but to share it, announce it. It is a truth that, for us as Christians, is one: Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Savior and Redeemer of the human race.”
The Cardinal sees this time for its launching as providential, as “the Catholic Church celebrates the Year of Saint Paul, which invites us to reflect on the life and mission of the Apostle to the Gentiles, the great communicator, and the Jubilee Year for the 150th anniversary of apparitions to the Virgen Mary to Saint Bernadette in Lourdes.” In addition, “the Church in Cuba has recently opened its three-year preparation for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the blessed image of Our Lady of Charity, Queen and Patroness of the Cuban people, and just several days ago was the beatification of Father Jose Olallo Valdes, apostle of charity and mercy in the difficult years of our nation's history, in the 19th century.”
He later recalled that the mission of the Church is above all that of preaching the Gospel, the announcement “in which our diocesan Church now inserts in cyberspace.” “Like Paul, today we enter into the modern areopagus of the Internet, to preach this God who is always near and close to us, but who, because of our limitations, continues to be “the great unknown.” We venture into this new world to preach Him, to spread word of the life and mission of the Church in Havana.”
The Cardinal concludes by placing the project at the feet of the Virgin of “La Caridad” of Cobre, “so that by her maternal intercession, our Church may be a place of truth, love, freedom, justice, and peace, to that all may find in Her a reason to maintain hope.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2008)