Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guantanamo (Agenzia Fides) - “Every Christmas is a celebration for God and for mankind,” says Bishop Wilfred Pino Estevez of the Diocese of Guantanamo-Baracoa (Cuba) in a Message sent to all the faithful on this Christmas and New Year 2009. The Bishop mentions that in order to approach God, the first important thing is to “become like children, lower our chin, recognize our littleness, come down off our pedestal, be humble.” He later mentions that “Christmas is and should continue to be a celebration in the family.” Thus, he asks that everyone try to make a special sign of their love to those who live alone and have no one with whom to share this feast.
The Bishop is aware of the fact that this Christmas will be a difficult one for many, as “we are at the end of a year that, for many families, has been very hard. Three hurricanes has made life even more difficult for many Cuban families.” However, it is precisely with these catastrophes that “God has offered us a great opportunity to practice charity with those in need.” The Bishop is grateful for “the great outpouring of support and aid that has been shown towards victims.” During the feast of Our Lady of “La Caridad” there could be no procession, however, “we had the great opportunity of practicing charity, which is much more important than a great number of processions all together. It was a great national procession with the virtue of charity!”
At the close of his message, the Bishop of Guantanamo-Baracoa expresses some of his wishes for 2009. Among them are: that our Church may reach out to all people this year, that all may find the aid they need for their salvation; that things improve in Cuba and that the Lord may illumine Cubans so that we may not fear dialogue among Cubans even if we do not think alike; that the Holy Spirit may illumine our governors, those who lead our economy, and that the international situation may improve; that there may be more and better workplaces and that the worker may be paid a salary with which to support his family; that we may be thankful to all our family and friends outside the country that work to help us, and that we do not become accustomed to living off of donations and works of charity, easy money, and that we remember that many of us do not have someone outside the country sending them something. Lastly, he hopes that this year we will all be a little better.
The Bishop concludes with a Christmas blessing in a special way “for the sick, the imprisoned, the disabled, those who live alone, those who are far from their family and from their homeland, those who feel sad, those who have lost their homes, couples without children or with difficult children, that they may not grow tired of doing good.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2008)
