AMERICA/CUBA - Two new parishes established, after 50 years

Santiago de Cuba (Agenzia Fides) – This past November 22 was an important day for the Church in Cuba, as after over 50 years there are now two new parishes in the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba: “Cristo Rey” (Christ the King) and “San Jose Obrero” (Saint Joseph the Worker). The first of the two includes an area that used to belong to two other parishes and it is a heavily populated area. The parish of “San Jose Obrero” does not yet have an official church building, and will also include areas from another two previously existing parishes.
The Mass on the occasion was presided by Archbishop Dionisio Garcia of Santiago de Cuba, who concelebrated with many priests from the Archdiocese. During the Mass, the decrees of erection were read, as well as the appointment of the pastors of the parishes: Fr. Oscar Márquez Canler, for “San Jose Obrero,” and Fr. Jose Manuel Hernández, for “Cristo Rey.”
In his homily, Archbishop Garcia focused on how this dream of his predecessors to create parishes in these areas, had finally come true. These areas used to be far from the main urban centers of the city. Since 56 years ago, when the parishes were named “Santa Teresita” and “San Antonio Maria Claret,” the city limits and the population have grown. These areas that used to be the outskirts of the city are now new population “hubs,” and the number of churches had remained the same. That is when the Church say the need to bring pastoral ministry to these areas. In fact, for 15 years, missionaries from various communities in Santiago went every week, facing numerous difficulties, to minister to these places. At the end of the ceremony, the Archbishop presented a group of the missionaries with a medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, he thanked them and those who worked in the past, for their dedication and faith over the years. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2008)