Fraternal and missionary visit to the community of Santiago de Cuba

From November 28 to December 4 we had the grace to live a fraternal and missionary visit to the community of our sisters in Santiago de Cuba. This time of encounter and sharing was profoundly marked by communion, simplicity and the joy of the mission lived together. We have been able to get closer to the reality of the local Church and to the mission assumed by our sisters, a mission rooted in the hearts of the people, often in contexts of great poverty, but always illuminated by hope.

From our arrival we were welcomed with cordiality, a concrete sign of fraternity and communion. On the very afternoon of the day we arrived, we participated in the Eucharist in the Cathedral, an intense moment of prayer that united us deeply with the local Christian community. Before the celebration, we visited several places steeped in history: the old school founded by the sisters, the old community, and the street where our Mother Foundress lived upon her arrival in Cuba. This visit, although brief, was particularly moving. Walking on the ground that she walked rekindled in us the strength of the charism that animates us and the fidelity of the sisters who preceded us.

We also participated in the catechesis of the children in the parish. Their simplicity, their joy and their enthusiasm touched us deeply. The commitment of the catechists, formed by the sisters, testifies to patient and discreet work, sustained by a sincere love for the Gospel and for the little ones.

On Sunday, November 30, we experienced a significant moment of communion with the Lay Claretian Family, made up of seventeen people. This space for fraternal encounter and dialogue strengthened ties and renewed the joy of walking together in the mission.

On December 1, we headed to the cemetery to pay tribute to our deceased sisters. This deeply moving moment of silence and prayer reminded us that the mission we live today rests on the gift of their lives and on the fidelity of their witness.

The following days were marked by numerous apostolic visitations. We participate in the distribution of food to the elderly and sick; Their smiles, grateful looks and simple words gave a concrete face to the mission lived from closeness and love. We also met groups of mothers engaged in the sharing of the Word of God, where each one finds a true space of family, mutual support and growth in faith. The times of “conversation in the Spirit”, as well as the participation in the educational life of La Salle School, enriched our missionary experience.

On December 4 we participated in the Eucharist in the Bishop’s House and had a meeting with the bishop, Monsignor Dionisio. Their simple and fraternal welcome, as well as their words of encouragement about the situation of the Church and the country, were a source of comfort and hope for us. This meeting confirmed the meaning of our presence and the importance of continuing the mission with trust and fidelity.