Havana (Fides Service) - The Pontifical Mission Society for Holy Childhood in Cuba is marking the 12th anniversary of the beginning of its mission among the boys and girls of Cuba. The small group of one catechist and four children formed 12 years ago in Saint Ana parish in the Camaguey diocese bore fruit and today there are groups in 9 of the Island’s 11 dioceses with a total 2,000 boys and girls.
From 18 to 20 October Holy Childhood animators attended the 2nd annual meeting in Havana, Father Raul Rodríguez Dago, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Cuba told Fides. Some 38 animators, representing 8 of Cuba’s 11 dioceses reflected on how to celebrate 2005 as a Year of Mission for which they chose the theme: "Proclaiming Christ, accompanied by Our Lady of Charity". Our Lady of Charity is patroness of Cuba. The much venerated image of Our Lady of Charity is said to have been found floating on the sea water in Nipe bay by two local men Juan and Rodrigo de Hoyos and a black slave Juan Moreno in 1606. During his first and history-making visit to Cuba in January 1998, Pope John Paul II crowned the image of the Blessed Virgin, as Queen and Patroness of Cuba. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2004; Righe 15 - Parole 204)