Missionary experience in the Lavalla Community200> Holguín

The community of the Lavalla200> Project in Holguín, Cuba, was opened in 2019 and is located in the southeast of the country, a city situated about 700 km from Havana or 500 km from the nearest Marist presence in Cienfuegos. The community includes Brothers Jong Acosta (East Asia), Jorge Gaio (Brasil Centro-Sul), and the couple Ricardo Miño Barreno and Sylvia Margarita Pérez (Santa María de los Andes).

We quote from a letter recently sent by the members of the community.

Dear Marists of Champagnat

Receive from this beautiful Caribbean land, a warm greeting We are happy to be able to communicate with you during this Lenten season, a time of reflection, conversion and prayer. We find ourselves before the pandemic of the coronavirus, where we realize that, in the face of adversity, human beings recognize their insignificance and even their inability to “want and not be able to”. Perhaps it is an occasion to recognize the Lord inwardly and to convert ourselves more and more, and effectively, to Him. At this time we live it by “staying at home”.

The “Montagne” community continues with the task of building community, that is, of becoming brothers and sisters in this setting, where we feel called to live together in respect, solidarity and freedom. Where the Spirit of Jesus animates us every day. We came here from different backgrounds, a Filipino, a Brazilian and two Ecuadorians with half a lifetime in Bolivia. Marists, brothers and laypeople, living interculturality and internationality for a new beginning, we see it as a beautiful opportunity and from there, as a gift and a task. At the beginning of the year, we carried out a community evaluation and re-established the Plan of Community Life, as well as adjusting the initiatives and mission objectives.

We feel that our community is a mystery which we have to contemplate and welcome with a heart full of recognition and faith. It has much that is human and divine: weaknesses and strengths, as well as joy, creativity and hope. As an open community, we commit ourselves to those who are on the periphery of life, to come back later and place them in our reflections and prayers. Personal and community prayer has always been an experience of being with and in the Lord, so that He may pray in us, and amidst distractions and fatigue, may invade our life, comfort it, guide it and make our whole existence belong to Him always.

After the January holidays, we returned with renewed enthusiasm to continue with the mission. In the peripheral areas where we work: La Colorada, Cacocum, Cristino Naranjo, Las Juanitas and Limpio Chiquito, there are children, adolescents and young people at personal and social risk; for them, we promote socio-cultural activities: musical instruments, choir, dance and theatre, after school work. We have already held small mission animation concerts in several parishes. It is an enriching experience for the children in the workshops. We also promote activities in sports, strengthening existing groups and generating new ones, whether or not linked  to the ecclesial communities. We promote leadership, the use of free time, the prevention of vices, physical development and team work.

We support the Diocesan Commission of Adolescents, Youth and Young People which is composed of young people and animators from different religious congregations who collaborate in the formation, animation and accompaniment of groups that strengthen human bonds, the development of the life project and the personal and community following of Jesus Christ, promoting areas of spirituality and communion, placing themselves at the service and practicing the testimony in daily life, with the object of announcing the Gospel, through meetings, retreats, subsidies, vigils, walks and missions.

We also collaborate in the Diocesan Mission Commission, promoting missionary childhood and adolescence: formation of animators, aids and meetings. We also support the animation of the diocesan assemblies. We seek to promote over-all pastoral care, ecclesial dynamism, lay formation, spirituality, leadership and a commitment to evangelization in the Church and society.

 In La Colorada, Cacocum, Cristino Naranjo, Las Juanitas and Limpio Chiquito, there are children, adolescents and young people at personal and social risk; for them, we promote socio-cultural activities: musical instruments, choir, dance and theatre, after school work. We have already held small mission animation concerts in several parishes. It is an enriching experience for the children in the workshops. We also promote activities in sports, strengthening existing groups and generating new ones, linked or not to the ecclesial communities. We promote protagonism, the use of free time, the prevention of vices, physical development and team work.

At the moment we are carrying out a focused diagnosis of the existing undertakings to carry out training and counselling services for economic initiatives in line with the programmes already existing in other dioceses. We are also developing a solidarity economy group for the elaboration and commercialization of handicrafts, composed of young adults.

We had the opportunity to share time with Brothers Jeff and Fachi, who helped us to experience fraternity, building areas of communion. We became aware of the project that we have to live in this historic moment, being resilient, promoting dialogue and good humour. We were also visited by Brother Manuel, Administrator of the Province of Central America. Thank you for your accompaniment and for being so approachable.

Br. Jong Acosta has finished his time in the Lavalla200> Programme and will soon return to his Province of origin, when this becomes possible. As a community we thank God and him for his presence among us. Sharing life all this time has enriched us all. We wish him all the best in the new phase which is beginning.

United in Jesus, Mary and Champagnat

_________________

Jorge Gaio, Jong Acosta, Sylvia Pérez and Ricardo Miño

Community “Montagne” Lavalla200> Holguín, Cuba