On a preparatory trip for our upcoming mission in March, I spent a weekend in Havana, Cuba, attending their diocesan convention. This provided a valuable opportunity to meet with the priests there I currently work with, as well as to reconnect with clergy I hadn’t seen in several years. I also witnessed firsthand how current political and economic realities affect the country as a whole.
Due to the ongoing situation in Venezuela and regional tensions, gasoline is essentially unavailable for purchase. The limited existing supply is reserved primarily for tourists or sold on the black market at prices as high as $8 per liter. This shortage impacts not only transportation but also electricity production, with scarce fuel available to operate power plants. As a result, blackouts have become increasingly frequent, sometimes lasting 20 to 22 hours per day. Even those who own generators can’t obtain fuel to run them.
In response to these challenges, several Cuban churches have partnered with donors from U.S. congregations to install solar power systems, including batteries and inverters. These systems allow churches to provide essential services to their communities, such as refrigeration and freezer space, phone charging stations, limited lighting, and basic cooking facilities. In many places, the church has become a vital source of practical support and stability.
Despite these hardships, what stood out most to me at the convention was the spirit of love, charity, kindness, and hope. The theme of this year’s gathering, “2026: The Year of Hope,” was clearly more than a slogan. The Church in Cuba is not merely enduring difficult circumstances; it is faithfully living out the baptismal covenant in tangible and inspiring ways.
Following the convention, attendees remained for Sunday worship, during which two transitional deacons were ordained to the priesthood. The diocese’s only deacon for the past 23 years had been ordained to the priesthood last year, making me the only deacon present. I was deeply honored to serve as deacon at both the Mass and the ordination service—a meaningful and humbling experience.
