2020 Lenten Almsgiving
Building a Home for a “Pilgrimage Church”
“Catholics in the community of San Francisco de Asis in Calero, Cuba describe themselves as a pilgrimage church. They have had to relocate six times in their 21 years. Currently meeting in small ‘house mission’ for worship and catechesis, they dream of having chapel of their own. Catholic Extension thanks Saint Anne parishioners for their willingness to make that dream come true. Your partnership continues a beautiful legacy of hope that has touched countless people.”
Fr. Jack Wall, President, Catholic Extension
With our 2020 Lenten Almsgiving, the Saint Anne community once again joins with Catholic Extension in their commitment to bring hope and dignity to the people of Cuba—especially to children like this young boy. While we don’t know his name, his smile and the sparkle in his eyes speak to the energy of emerging faith
Catholic Extension believes that vibrant faith communities trans-form individuals, families and society. They have launched a multi-year initiative to build or restore 100 churches throughout Cuba. Last year, Saint Anne joined Catholic Extension in this effort and work on two churches in the Diocese of Bayamo-Manzanillo. Last week’s Clarion showed the amazing fruits of our efforts.
Cuba Initiative – Year II
This year, our efforts turn to the westernmost diocese in Cuba, Pinar del Rio (red star on the map below.) This is the Diocese Fr. Bernie visited last Fall with Fr. Jack Wall, members of the Catholic Extension staff and other pastors working with CE. The Diocese was recently allowed to purchase a plot of land in the town of Calero which is home to the Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis (Parish of St. Francis of Assisi).
This growing community currently meets in a small house. It is its sixth location in 21 years. Like many of the house missions, it is humble in appearance, but it is teaming with people whose faith is a testament to the resilience of Cuba’s Catholics. They come together regardless of their lack of resources and physical structures. The parish community has been hoping to have a chapel of their own for a long time. They ardently believe that people living in the large apartment building just across the street from this plot of land will come to see a chapel as a sign of hope
2020 Almsgiving Goal $50,000
The following list gives you an idea of how Saint Anne’s alms will be spent on both the construction of the chapel and the ministries to the community.
| Electrical materials share | $1,000 |
| Labor cost share | $800 |
| Tree removal & land clearing share | $500 |
| Construction materials share | $300 |
| 90 Jaimanita stones for chapel exterior walls | $100 |
| Cement, gravel & sand share | $55 |
| Hammer and nails | $25 |
| Providing workers with a meal | $10 |
TAGS and ALMSGIVING ENVELOPES
Please take a tag from the bare branches in the Gathering Space. Read more about our efforts in Cuba and reflect on the meaning and purpose of almsgiving. An envelope for returning your alms is attached to the tag. Alms may be placed in the acrylic box in the Gathering Space beginning the weekend of March 7th/8th.
The Diocese of Pinar del Rio in Cuba is requesting $50,000 to build a new chapel. They are confident that when they build this chapel, they will have more people, parishioners, more kids in religious education and more people living out their faith. The parish currently has 2 soup kitchens, serving about 50 people a day, mostly the poor and elderly of the community. With the new chapel, they hope to have all the services that parishes offer in addition to worship, including additional kitchen space to serve more people.
For this parish community having a physical chapel is proof of their faith. Cubans want to see a church. Many people from the parish community go door to door to invite people to come to church. Some reject them; others say, “We are not believers, but our mother is, so you can come in.” That’s the objective of Mission to this parish community. A parishioner said it best, “Everything in the church is Mission. Everything we do is Mission.”
