Fr. Fabian Martin Gomez, General Councilor of the Order, traveled to Cuba last November 11 to spend three months with the community of Augustinian Recollects who carry out their mission in the Diocese of Holguin. In a recent interview he shared with us his first impressions.
“The first thing that caught my attention when I arrived in Báguanos, one of the parishes of the diocese of Holguín, was a sign that says: a people that creates and founds“. This is one of the communities served by the Augustinian Recollects in the area, which cover an area of approximately 70 kilometers along the main road. These communities are distinguished by their cultural diversity and the dynamism of their inhabitants.
“The day-to-day reality of these communities is characterized by transportation difficulties, frequent power outages, long lines to receive basic foodstuffs, and an atmosphere enlivened by music. People seem to be accustomed to the situation, showing patience in the face of these challenges”shared Fabian.
The community is made up of children playing in the streets, teenagers who occasionally connect through their cell phones, and adults going about their daily activities.
“There is a significant presence of older people, who tend to spend time in the doors of their homes or under the shade of trees.”
The climate in the region is hot and humid, with frequent rains during the current season. The houses are mostly small, many of them constructed of wood, and some larger buildings show signs of age, not having been painted in many years.
Fabian shared that “the transportation infrastructure in these areas is limited. You can see old cars and horse-drawn carts being used as the main means of transportation.” . Las carreteras están en mal estado y los vehículos modernos son excepcionales. Los agustinos recoletos se desplazan entre las comunidades utilizando motocicletas y un jeep antiguo, aunque enfrentan dificultades para conseguir gasolina o diésel debido a las restricciones vigentes.
The community of Augustinian Recollects present in the Diocese of Holguín is composed of four friars who reside in the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, in Banes. From there, they serve three parishes (Báguanos, Tacajó and Antilla) and three smaller communities (Ajies, Río Seco and Macabí). The distances are not great, but fuel shortages complicate travel.
“Religious activities are concentrated mainly on weekends. The friars celebrate the Eucharist, offer adult formation, hold meetings with young people and catechesis with children, and meet with pastoral councils.”
In the communities, the laity also play an important role, leading activities and encouraging the participation of the faithful. In the main parish, the Eucharist is celebrated daily and various formative activities are organized.
“Participation in religious celebrations is small in proportion to the total population, mainly due to the recent history of persecution and limitation of public expression of faith. Most attendees are women, many of them older, some children and few young people and men.”
For Fabián, one of the greatest challenges for the Catholic Church in Cuba is to promote a new evangelization that strengthens the faith in these communities. Maintaining hope is also a crucial challenge, given the context of economic difficulties, deficiencies in the health system and transportation and infrastructure problems.
“The Church seeks to accompany the people of Cuba in their desire for a brighter future.”