Non classé - Mission Cuba

A Solidarity Christmas: Distribution of Food Baskets to the Most Needy

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.”

A new Minibus: Christmas Gift for the Mission

This Christmas season, the Placetas mission received a very special and hope-filled gift: the purchase of an 18-seat minibus, locally known as the Toano. This acquisition represents a major step forward for the mission as it faces significant pastoral and logistical challenges.

A Vast Mission with Limited Resources

The territory entrusted to the mission is extensive, with only five priests serving numerous parishes and rural communities. Many of these communities are isolated, and a large number of faithful are unable to attend Mass or participate in pastoral activities regularly due to the lack of transportation.

This situation is made even more difficult by the unprecedented crisis currently affecting Cuba. Fuel shortages have largely paralyzed public transportation, and only a very small minority of the population owns a personal vehicle. In rural areas, people often travel on foot or by horse-drawn carts, making the journey to the parish a real challenge.

Fragile Communities That Still Endure

The massive migration of young people to the United States or to major cities has led to the decline of many small rural parishes. Some chapels have had to close due to the lack of parishioners. Nevertheless, the mission remains committed to the faithful who continue to persevere and remain deeply rooted in their Christian faith.

Thanks to the purchase of the Toano, the mission is now able to bring together these scattered communities. The recent reopening of the church in Placetas also allows the mission to welcome more parishioners from former rural chapels, especially for major liturgical celebrations and key moments in parish life.

Reaching the Most Isolated Faithful

This minibus is far more than a means of transportation. It enables priests and pastoral teams to reach isolated parishioners, maintain strong connections with rural communities, and accompany them on their faith journey. It also makes it possible for many faithful to take part in Mass, formation programs, and other mission activities.

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Donors

This purchase would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. We extend our sincere thanks to all those whose financial support allows the mission to reach isolated communities, accompany the faithful, and help them live out their Christian commitment more fully, despite the challenges of the current context.

The Toano was officially blessed after the Christmas Mass, placing this new vehicle at the service of the mission and entrusting it to the Lord’s protection for evangelization and pastoral outreach.

Youth Conviviality

Over the course of three days, young people aged 18 to 30, coming from the parishes of Placetas, Báez, Fomento, Cabaiguán, Guayos, and Falcón, traveled from Placetas to Havana to experience a convivencia (winter camp) focused on the themes of encounter and service.

Welcomed into a house provided by the Carmelite community, the young people quickly turned this place into a real space for communal living.

The convivencia began with a time of blessing in the church adjacent to the accommodation. A few guidelines were established to guide these days: to be open to others, to be available for service, and to allow oneself to be led by the Lord.

Once everyone settled into the house, the group met with Archbishop Eloy Domínguez Martínez of Havana.

This exchange allowed for a discussion on religious diversity in Cuba and a reflection on the place and hope of young people in a country where everyday challenges are numerous.

The second day was entirely dedicated to service. The young people went to the Santovenia residence, run by the Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados, which cares for the elderly. After Mass, they took time to visit the facility and interact with the residents.

A highlight of the day was the Christmas carols, accompanied on the piano, which filled the residents with joy. The smiles, the hands clapping in rhythm, and the bright eyes were clear signs of their happiness.

The music continued through the halls, inviting the residents to dance. Then came the time for the meal, served at the pace of the elderly. Each person was assigned a group so that everyone could eat at the same time.

After the elderly had their nap, the young people shared a time of quick-fire games, followed by questions related to key moments in the Christian faith, before joining the residents to pray the rosary together in the church. A beautiful way to conclude this day of service.

The evenings also allowed the group to discover Havana, including a visit to the San Carlos fort and its famous cannon shot.

On the final day, everyone rolled up their sleeves to clean the house before visiting the Cristóbal Colón Cemetery, a large historic site known for its rich religious iconography and marble sculptures.

This convivencia, organized by the members of the youth group “Contra Corriente” council, marked the end of the year with a true missionary spirit.

“Lord, we thank you for these days of encounter and service. Teach us to keep this fraternal joy alive and to make it grow wherever you send us”

Christmas 2025 in Cuba

This year, we experienced a particularly intense and beautiful season of Advent in our missions in Cuba.

In Placetas, after three years of restoration work, we redoubled our efforts to reopen our church before Christmas. With immense joy, the community was able to return to the church for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The church was full, and an atmosphere of celebration and hope could be felt in every corner.

In Cienfuegos, it was our second Christmas in the mission, and it was a great joy to welcome the Child Jesus with a community we now know better and that continues to grow.

Reviving a Latin American Tradition: La Posada

We also revived a beautiful Latin American tradition that had been lost in Cuba: La Posada. On Christmas Eve, following the example of Mary and Joseph, our teenagers went from house to house in the neighborhood, knocking on doors. After the traditional short dialogue, with three “symbolic” refusals, the doors were finally opened so that everyone could sing Christmas carols and bring joy and warmth, especially to the elderly or those who live alone.

The Christmas Mass

On the evening of December 24, everything was ready: the choirs had rehearsed their most beautiful hymns, the altar servers had adapted to the new church space, and the Christmas Mass in Placetas was celebrated in a festive and fraternal atmosphere.
The Child Jesus was placed in the manger to the sound of Cuban maracas and tambourines, a living symbol of our culture and of the joy of Christmas in Cuba.

A Mission Radiating Beyond Cuba

During a recent trip to the United States, Don Stéphane Fernandes and Don Grégoire de Lambilly had the opportunity to bear witness to their missionary commitment in various American dioceses.

It was through these encounters and in the context of this journey that they were invited to take part in an interview on the television program This Is the Day.

Bearing Witness to the Mission in Cuba

The interview, conducted by Deacon Franklin Mejía, gave Don Stéphane and Don Grégoire the opportunity to share their experience within the Cuba mission: how they were called to serve the Cuban people, the charisms of their community, their daily life in the mission field, and the social programs developed in service of the most vulnerable.

They also testify to how their faith has been deepened and strengthened through the trials, joys, and encounters lived on the island, reminding us that mission is above all a path of personal and communal conversion.

A Structuring Missionary Journey in the United States

This trip to the United States had several objectives. One of the main goals was to expand our American network by visiting new cities and new parishes within dioceses already known to us. This mission bore much fruit with stops in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York / New Jersey, and Miami.

Another important focus of this stay was to work toward the creation of a U.S.-based association intended to support the priests of the Cuba mission as well as our French association. This essential step was fully accomplished: the association was created, its bank account opened, and tax-exempt status granted.

Encounters Filled with Hope

One of the great joys of this journey was meeting parish pastors who did not yet know us.

Their warm welcome, their desire to learn more about the Cuba mission, and their invitation to return — within a more institutional framework and in communion with their bishops — are very encouraging signs for us.

Once again, we experienced the vitality of the Catholic faith in the United States, as well as the prompt and joyful generosity of the faithful, who are happy to support the missions of the Church, even beyond the borders of their own country.

In Thanksgiving

Providence was clearly at work throughout this journey. We are now working to structure our American network, while of course continuing to make the Cuba mission known and supported from France. It seems natural to us to seek particular support from our American brothers and sisters, while remaining firmly rooted in our missionary commitment.

Saint Martin of Tours: An Example of Charity

On November 11th, we gathered to celebrate the feast of Saint Martin of Tours, the patron saint of our community and one of the greatest witnesses of Christian charity.

We all know the famous episode from his life: one winter’s day, while he was still a Roman soldier, Saint Martin met an old man trembling with cold. Filled with compassion, he drew his sword, cut his cloak in two, and gave one half to the beggar.
That night, Christ appeared to him in a dream, wearing that same half of the cloak.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40)

Inspired by Saint Martin, let us ask ourselves:

“What cloak can I share today?”

Perhaps a few moments of our time, a listening ear, a kind word, or a service offered without expecting anything in return…

Saint Martin, apostle of charity, pray for us!

Our Community Inspired by Saint Martin

Following the example of Saint Martin, our parish seeks to live charity in daily life — not as an abstract idea, but as a concrete gesture rooted in everyday living.

This charity is expressed when young people come together to support, through their presence and prayer, the sick grandmother of a parishioner;
when volunteers at the soup kitchen prepare hot meals for those living in extreme hardship;
or when children and adolescents from the boarding school return home and take part in family life, offering their presence, their help, and their attention.

Each act, no matter how small, becomes a visible sign of God’s presence among us.

Saint Martin of Tours

Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre

One of the most beautiful religious celebrations in Cuba is the Feast of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba.

In Cuba, there is a date no one can forget: September 8, when Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba, draws near to her people.
For nine days, the parishes of our missions live to the rhythm of vigils and confessions.
Through the streets, mission groups are sent out, house to house, to invite everyone to the celebration.
In every home, the Virgin is present — in a medal, a small statue, or an image.

And for those who cannot come, their prayers rise with ours, united in this great feast for the nation.

Then comes the long-awaited day.
The churches, adorned with flowers, resound with songs prepared for weeks.
The statue of Our Lady of Charity finally comes out, carried high in the arms of the faithful, and an entire people sets out on pilgrimage.
The streets become a procession: families, children, the elderly, fervent believers, and simple onlookers — all walk behind her.

Even those who never enter the church bow as she passes.
For here, devotion knows no boundaries: she is Mother to all, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

We ourselves, coming from afar, are deeply moved.
Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre dwells in the prayers and hopes of the Cuban people, accompanying their history marked by wounds and struggle.
As we walk behind her, we feel the fervent faith of a people worn and weary, yet who raise their prayers to the Virgin with unshakable hope, certain that she can do all things.
Yes, Our Lady of Charity watches over Cuba, and in her radiant wake, we entrust with them the future of this island with a great and generous heart.

Corpus Christi

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Feast of Corpus Christi has become the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

It commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and invites the faithful to deepen their understanding of its meaning.

This feast celebrates the God of love who gives Himself as the bread of eternal life, placing greater emphasis on the mystery of the Eucharist as lived, rather than solely on the adoration of the Real Presence.

On June 22, the day of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the church is filled to capacity. At the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament goes out in procession, banners held high, and amid a cloud of incense, makes its way around the main square, ending its route at the foot of the church bell tower, still under renovation. For a few moments, the voices of the choir and the songs of thanksgiving fade away, and the entire procession, kneeling, adores in silence, offering their intentions. Time seems suspended — quiet and reverent. Then the litany breaks the silence, the final blessing is given, and Jesus in the Host, enclosed in the monstrance, returns to the tabernacle, accompanied by the altar servers.

The crowd disperses, calm and joyful. A thought crosses our minds: we remember the copes of our country churches which, together with their banners (when they have not been burned), wait humbly in the dust for a few brave souls to carry them once again at the head of the procession. A vast task indeed!

Placetas: A Light of Hope Through Solar Energy

For several months now, Cuba has been facing a severe energy crisis. The shortage of electricity produced by the state has turned a temporary difficulty into a lasting reality.

This shortage weighs heavily on daily life: gas cylinders now cost nearly 60 dollars, while the average monthly salary does not exceed 12 dollars (around 6,000 pesos).

Without stable energy, life unfolds according to the rhythm of power cuts. Household appliances, lighting, and phone charging all depend on the return of electricity. As soon as the power comes back, many leave their work to cook, disrupting both professional and family life.

In response to this situation, some Cubans who are fortunate enough to receive financial help from abroad invest in batteries or, for the wealthier, in solar panels.

From Batteries to Solar Independence

In January, our parish was able to acquire its first Ecoflow battery. Then, in May, thanks to a fundraising campaign in the United States, we equipped our living spaces with more powerful models.
But one challenge remained: to produce our own energy.

Our needs are significant — about 30 kW in Placetas and 20 kW in Cienfuegos — far more than what two solar panels can supply. Without having planned or budgeted for it, we therefore launched a solar installation project.

The beginnings were difficult: three attempts with local companies failed due to a lack of reliability and resources.
But through a wonderful providence, some encounters in Havana opened a new path forward.

A Light in the Night

In June, a concrete opportunity arose: to install 54 solar panels and 3 batteries in Placetas — enough to ensure almost complete energy autonomy, except during long cloudy periods.

On September 1, 2025, the parish house regained a stable source of energy. As evening fell, the bell tower shone once again in the darkness of the city — a sign of hope and renewed life.

A Mission That Continues

Now, our wish is to open our parish spaces even more to welcome parishioners — a place where they can recharge their batteries, work or study in an atmosphere that is bright, peaceful, and fraternal.

light solar solar energy

A Deacon “Made in Cuba”

Un diacre « made in Cuba »

What joy for our community!

After three years with the Saint Martin Community in Placetas, followed by the completion of his seminary formation in Évron (France), Delvis Heguy, a native of Placetas and a former student of our boarding school, has become the first Cuban ever ordained a deacon within the Saint Martin Community.

On June 20, the ordination ceremony took place at 10 a.m. in France… but at 4 a.m. in Placetas!
Several parishioners rose before dawn to follow the ordination live. A few hours later, a local Mass brought together the entire parish to share in this immense joy.

During the summer, we had the grace of welcoming our new Deacon Delvis during his visit to Cuba. The young people, especially, were happy and proud to celebrate with him this important step before his departure for his new mission at the Sanctuary of Lourdes.

To accompany Delvis in this great moment, two of his Cuban friends, José Carlos and Ernesto, had the joy of attending his ordination in person in France.

Their month of travel was filled with discoveries: Mont-Saint-Michel, the Alps, Rome, and even the Saint Martin Junior Route, alongside other young people from the Saint Martin Community.

They returned overflowing with joy and inspiration, bringing back fresh ideas to help our youth groups and parish life grow.

A true breath of hope and renewal for our entire community!

deacon evron seminarist

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