Cuba - In the Shrine of Charity, the Salesians began a great work a hundred years ago

18 April 2017

(ANS - Camagüey) - Early April was a busy time for the Salesian community of "La Caridad" in Camagüey. There were several celebrations and activities for the conclusion of the year of celebrations for the first century of Salesian presence in Cuba.

By Lily Ramón

The celebrations began with Sunday Mass on 2 April attended by members of the rural communities in the vicinity. Children, adolescents and young people of the missionary works filled the Church and took part in the liturgy. Subsequently, the library at the Shrine inaugurated the “Warrior Peace” exhibition by the young man, Alejandro Casas, a Salesian past pupil.

The gala evening dedicated to the anniversary, aptly named "100", took place on Monday 3 April. It was an artistic triumph. Adolescents and young people of the parish kicked off the evening with a solemn overture. The music was performed by the group called "In Tempore". The Salesian youth choir "Ad Cor" gave a performance of their songs, while the flamenco group "Madiú Hidalgo" entertained the audience with their dances. The community and the other people in the various Salesian houses in the country finally received the "goodnight" from the Salesian Superior of the Antilles, Fr Francisco Batista, and the blessing of Archbishop Wilfredo Pino Estévez of Camagüey.

On Tuesday 4 April, activities continued with two conferences on the history of the Salesians in Cuba and in Camagüey in particular, given by Fr Bruno Roccaro, SDB, and by Deacon Rafael Marrero who is a Salesian Cooperator. After the historical symposium, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the porch of the Shrine of Charity - the Church where the Salesians first arrived in the West Indies, on 4 April 1917.

A friendly meal was then the sign of gratitude to the Salesians of the past who gave their lives for the mission in Cuba, and the Salesians of the present who continue the mission on Cuban soil.

At the end of the last day of the centenary, there was a solemn Mass of thanksgiving for the Salesian presence in Cuba "the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen" – as it has been called.  The Mass began with a symbolic procession of a hundred children and young people: one for each year of Salesian presence on the Caribbean island.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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