Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Havana (Agenzia Fides) – The Archdiocese of Havana has begun preparations for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of “La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre” (The Virgin of Charity of Cobre), Patroness of Cuba (see Fides 15/2/2008). In its honor, there was an Assembly of the Laity held on July 12 at the parish church of the Sacred Heart in Reina, presided by Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana, where details were given on the three-year preparation period (2008-2011) and the Jubilee Year (2012) for the discovery and presence of the Virgin of Charity. The Cardinal affirmed that it had been “one of the most enriching and efficacious meetings that has taken place in recent years.” He likewise mentioned the courage, creativity, and coherence that are the necessary characteristics of the evangelization effort right now in Cuba. He later insisted on the need to foster and live the Church’s spirituality with a “well-furnished interior life, with acceptance of the Cross, knowing that from the Cross comes life.” “When this is willingly accepted, then comes the commitment and the will to act.”
The meeting, which was attended by over 200 representatives from Havana’s four vicariates, as well as Auxiliary Bishops Alfredo Petit and Juan de Dios Hernández, began at 9 am with a prayer. Later, Bishop Petit spoke briefly on the mission of the laity in the Church and in the world, making reference to the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifidelis Laici by John Paul II. The day continued with talks by Rita Petrirena of the COCC (Cuban Bishops’ Conference) Department of Pastoral Coordinationa and Fr. Tony Rodriguez, the new rector of the Seminary of “San Carlos y San Ambrosio” in Havana.
Rita Petrirena spoke on the relation between the three-year preparation and the COCC’s pastoral plans until 2012. She mentioned that the Church hopes that it will be “a celebration for the entire Cuban population,” a time of grace and celebration that shows “the joy of being a disciple” of Jesus Christ. Fr. Rodriguez presented a synthesis of the various Magisterial documents on the laity and their mission in the world and in the Church, and invited those present to reflect on how they could “fill their ordinary lives with Gospel values,” as the document Evangeli nuntiandi explains, and how to live the mission of the laity in modern Cuba.
The afternoon was dedicated to working in groups, on proposals for the Archdiocese of Havana as to the use of the pastoral guidelines in the coming years. Last July 1, a similar meeting was held with priests, deacons, and religious men and women who serve in the Archdiocese, in order to organize the Jubilee Year. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2008)
