Twentieth Anniversary of the New Marist Presence in Cuba

The Marists of Cuba wish to remember with gratitude these first 20 years of our new presence in the Pearl of the Caribbean. We thank the Lord of Life and History for all the good he has done for his people, and, for this, we are very happy. We thank Mary of Charity, our Good Mother, for her living presence among the Cuban people in order to be a seed of the Kingdom.

During all these years we have been able to see the effective action of God in the history of our journey in Cuba since 8 August 2001, at the service of the Church and the Cuban people. Our desire is to continue sowing the Good News of Jesus and his message of the Kingdom of God from the little, small, humble but germinal and hopeful. With Mary we can do everything, without her, we are nothing.

We wish to thank all those who have promoted Champagnat’s work among Cuban children and young people. Thanks to all those who, directly or indirectly, have contributed so that our missionary presence continues on the road and on the way. Thank you, dear Brothers, dear students and former students. Thank you, dear Marists, of Champagnat. Thank you, dear teachers, priests, lay people, bishops and friends, for sharing this marvellous journey of accompanying children and young people in their process of growth so that they can become good Christians and upright citizens.

Our special thanks go to Bishop Emilio Aranguren Echeverría, a former Marist student of Santa Clara for his efforts to make the Marist mission present in Cienfuegos and Holguín.

We also thank all the Marists who, from the General Council, promoted or accompanied the new Marist presence in Cuba. Thanks to Brother Charles Howard Superior General, Brother Marcelino Ganzaraín CG, Brother Javier Espinosa Provincial of Central America, Brother Benito Arbués SG, Séan Sammon SG, Brother Antonio Ramalho CG and Brother Antonio Eguía Provincial of Venezuela.

Thanks to all the Marists who have sown the Good News of the Kingdom in Cuba in these last twenty years: Efraín Martín, Carlos Martínez, Héctor Ávalos, Salvador Salinas, Jesús Bayo, Carlos Scottá, Germán Chaves, Manuel Matilla, Rodrigo Cuesta, César Henríquez, Teódulo Hernando, José Antonio Alonso, Marco Antonio Vargas, Jesús Balmaseda, José María Custodi, Jorge Gaio, Jong Acosta, Ricardo Miño, Sylvia Pérez, Rosa Schaffiano and Luis Sánz who have come with the utmost willingness to serve the people and the Church on pilgrimage in Cuba from our Marist charism, and to insert themselves in the plans of a particular Church and in the reality of Cuban society.

We know that there are many challenges ahead of us, but we trust that Jesus, Lord of Life and History, will continue to be our companion on the road in the face of the specific characteristics of a socialist Caribbean country where we believe that our charism is a gift for the Church and the Cuban people.

May Mary of Charity of El Cobre, patroness of the Cuban people, continue to encourage our journey in the face of the health, economic and social crisis. May solidarity between peoples encourage us to build bridges of fraternity and sisterhood.

May Jesus and Mary continue to accompany our Marist life and mission in Cuba.

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Marist Brothers of Cuba

8th August 2021