Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santa Clara (Agenzia Fides) – Rancho Veloz is a small rural community in the Diocese of Santa Clara (Cuba) that has recently celebrated the ordination and First Mass of its first priest. According to a report from Fr. Raul Rodriguez Dago, who has been the parish pastor of the town for over 15 years and is National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Bishop Arturo Gonzalez Amador ordained Father Osmany Santiago Lopez on October 12 in the Cathedral of Santa Clara. On Monday, the 13th, a large number of faithful from various communities gathered to accompany Fr. Osmany in the celebration of his First Mass, which he celebrated in the same Church where he received his First Communion. At the end of the celebration, those present gave him the gift of a stole from the III American Missionary Congress in Quito, encouraging him to live his priestly vocation with a missionary spirit, as well as several images of the parish of Rancho Veloz and its patron, Saint Joseph, under whose protection he placed his priesthood.
Osmany was born in what used to be called Ingenio San Isidro. There, he received his Baptism. As a child, he moved with his family to the town of Caridad, 4 km from Rancho Veloz. As a teenager, he began participating in the parish activities at Saint Joseph, which was the closest church to his family, where he received his First Communion and where he worked several years as an acolyte, catechist, and lay missionary, traveling every week, even when there were transportation problems.
The ordination of a new priest is a great joy for his parish pastor, Fr. Raul, who has a pastoral area that includes almost 20 small towns who do not have a church, which he tries to minister to through lay missionaries, as the transportation difficulties hinder the people from being able to attend celebrations in the parishes. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/10/2008)
