The Mission at the bedside..… or in the kitchens of the poor at Christmas
On the occasion of the Christmas celebrations, the Cuba Mission has a long-standing tradition of offering the poorest members of our parishes “jabas de Navidad”—that is, parcels (literally “bags”) of food and hygiene products—in order to ease the difficult daily lives of underprivileged families. Just as at the manger in Bethlehem, the aim above all is to bring a fraternal presence through the very concreteness of these gifts.
Alongside the Most Needy
Across all our parishes in Placetas (Báez, Fomento, Cabaiguán, Guayos) and in Cienfuegos (Paraíso), we thus organized a large distribution for more than 240 people. While throughout the year we strive to support the poor who come to our parishes through our Comedores (hot meals) and our pharmacies, the distribution of these “jabas” relies on the mission’s local network, through which in each village or neighborhood we seek to identify the most needy—who often do not dare to ask for help.
Assistance Made Possible Thanks to Your Donations
Thanks to the donation drives carried out over the past months, the Mission was able to obtain several tons of foodstuffs and hygiene products, making it possible to assemble 240 well-stocked jabas: canned goods, soups, rice and pasta, soap, laundry detergent, and the traditional “turrón de Navidad,” the Christmas dessert.
The Mobilization of Young People
After several weeks of logistics to gather all these supplies, it was the mission’s young people who got to work assembling the jabas. The boarding school refectory was adapted for the occasion, and the young people from Cienfuegos joined the Placetas team on the Saturday before Christmas. Over the course of a full day, a true hive of activity took shape to prepare, weigh, count, and distribute the bags, right up to the final stage: personalizing each parcel!
As charity gives rise to fraternity, this logistical adventure concluded with a large shared meal among the thirty or so volunteers, thereby strengthening the bonds between the two missions of Placetas and Cienfuegos.
Ana-Carolina gives her testimony:
“In this time of Christmas, the distribution of the food baskets was not only a material gesture, but a living sign of Christ’s love. When visiting some brothers and sisters who live alone, we felt that each of these baskets carried within it a message of hope: ‘You are not forgotten; the Church walks with you.’ Many received this food with tears of gratitude, because beyond its contents, it represented the companionship, closeness, and embrace of a community that recognizes them as part of the great family of God. Christmas reminds us that Jesus was born poor and humble, so that no one would feel alone at His table. Each bag given was a seed of faith and consolation, a reminder that true wealth is found in sharing.”
Visiting the Poor
Everything was then ready for the final stage: reaching the homes of the recipients of these jabas de Navidad. Given the vastness of the territory, each sector organized itself. In the city, it was often the young people who, during the days before and after Christmas, went to visit each person in need to deliver the jaba and take the time to share a meaningful visit. The various communities also mobilized to ensure that this Christmas gift reached those living in the most remote areas.
Ana-Carolina gives her testimony:
“In this time of Christmas, the distribution of the food baskets was not only a material gesture, but a living sign of Christ’s love. When visiting some brothers and sisters who live alone, we felt that each of these baskets carried within it a message of hope: ‘You are not forgotten; the Church walks with you.’ Many received this food with tears of gratitude, because beyond its contents, it represented the companionship, closeness, and embrace of a community that recognizes them as part of the great family of God. Christmas reminds us that Jesus was born poor and humble, so that no one would feel alone at His table. Each bag given was a seed of faith and consolation, a reminder that true wealth is found in sharing.”