Bogotá – The Archdiocese of Bogotá has carried out a humanitarian and evangelizing mission in Cuba, accompanying the communities of Guanabacoa and Regla, in Havana, with material assistance, spiritual support and a message of hope.The mission, the Archdiocese of Bogotá's Communications Office reported, took place from 17 to 20 July and was led by Vicar Rubén Darío Hernández, Episcopal Vicar for the Territory of St. Peter, and Fr. Ricardo Pulido, Director of the Diaconia for Integral Human Development of the Church of Bogotá. They were joined by Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, Archbishop of Havana; Redemptorist missionary Fr. José Manuel Araya; and Sisters Bernardina Montero and Concha Torres of the Congregation of the Love of God.During the visit, medicines, glasses, dental hygiene kits, food and other essential supplies were distributed to individuals and families in need. Liturgical materials were also delivered to Cuban parishes.Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez expressed his gratitude for the missionary presence, describing it as a visible sign of communion between the Churches. "This is a poor and fragile Church, like many Churches that suffer from a shortage of missionaries and priests. Yet it is fertile ground for the Gospel," he said."The purpose of this mission is to be the outstretched arms and hands of Jesus Christ, accompanying, comforting and proclaiming the Word of God to a people who have been deeply wounded and tried," explained Fr. José Manuel Araya, a Redemptorist missionary serving in Cuba. "They need us to bless them and to celebrate the Holy Mass with them." Despite the many hardships, he added, "one can sense the people's patience—a patience sustained by faith."Sister Bernardina Montero, who has served in Cuba for more than 25 years, highlighted the daily struggles facing Cuban families. "Today, the Cuban family lives under constant pressure, fighting simply to stay afloat and survive the many hardships that affect them every day," she said. She stressed the importance of a missionary presence close to the people: "A door-to-door mission is immensely valuable. We have not come only to remain inside the church building; we have come to be with the people."For the religious sister, Christian witness today begins with a fundamental message: "Helping people understand that they are not alone, that we are here to make Christ present in their lives and to walk beside them, even when the journey is painful and some of the situations we face are difficult to understand."The Sisters of the Congregation of the Love of God carry out their mission primarily in education and social outreach. "Our way of evangelizing is through education," explained Sister Concha Torres, who pointed to the growing challenges related to food insecurity and access to medicines. "There is so much to be done in social ministry. At present we face enormous difficulties because of the country's situation, especially regarding food. We share, as best we can, what Caritas provides us, as well as medicines, which are among the most urgent needs today," she said.At the conclusion of the mission, Episcopal Vicar Rubén Darío Hernández stated: "In this brief mission, we brought everything we could. We celebrated the Eucharist immersed in a reality where water, electricity, fuel and many other basic necessities for a dignified life are lacking." Yet, he added, "we also found what matters most: hope. We witnessed joy."The Episcopal Vicar of St. Peter concluded with an appeal to continue the missionary commitment: "We hope that in 2027 we will be able to send even more missionaries, because the Cuban people need us and are asking for our support, both material and spiritual."
