Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago de Cuba (Agenzia Fides) – For the entire month of October, all communities are be encouraged to pray for the missionary work of the Church and are being sent various different prayer intentions each week, says a report made to Agenzia Fides from Fr. Raul Rodriguez, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the country. The intentions for this year are the following: for the children of the Holy Childhood Association, that they may be faithful in bringing the message of salvation to other children and thus, become small but great collaborators in the mission of love (First Week); that the youth may hear the call to priestly and religious life and become enthusiastic missionaries, bringing the Good News to all people, through a coherent testimony of Christ and a radical following of the Gospel (Second Week); for all missionaries in the world, especially those of our country, that in following the example of Saint Paul, they may understand that missionary activity is a response to God’s love for us (Third Week); for the Visitors of the Sick, that in following the example of Venerable Padre Olallo, they may be missionaries of charity and bring the message of love to those most in need (Fourth Week).
“The Lord is blessing our Church with a second Cuban Blessed, who will be beatified on Saturday, November 29 in the Plaza de la Caridad, in the city of Camaguey, where he carried out all his apostolate as a Brother of Saint John of God, with the poor and needy,” Fr. Raul added. In fact, last year, “Cuba received the grace of having the first Cuban Beatified, Fray Jose Lopez Piteira, a martyr for the faith. This year, our second blessed is a man of charity, and we ask God to grant us the grace that the third Blessed will be a man of hope, as it is a virtue needed for living in Cuba right now.”
The National Director of the PMS continued explaining that for World Mission Day there will be a Nationwide Demonstration, inviting all to spend the day in prayer and try to give some form of economic aid for the missionary work of the Church. The collection taken up in 2007, which was sent to the Propagation of the Faith, was 39,282 Cuban pesos. In addition to the collection, many missionary groups organize raffles, bake sales, etc. for the cause. The National Office has sent out to all the diocese, along with the Message from the Holy Father, the schedule for celebrating a Missionary Holy Hour, so that the missionary groups can meet to pray and offer catechesis for children and adolescents of the Holy Childhood Association. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2008)
