New seminary is a sign of hope in Cuba
By Archbishop Thomas Wenski
As you know, I travel to Cuba frequently, always to visit and support
the Church in Cuba. Last week I was there for the inauguration of the
new seminary.
In August of last year, I visited the seminary construction site with
Cardinal O'Malley. During that visit, the purpose of which was also to
evaluate how the help coming from the United States after the hurricanes
was being used, we held a news conference at the Priest House. And at
that time a reporter asked me, "What does Cuba need now?"
My response was brief, and I don't think he published it. I answered
with only one word: "Hope."
Today's Cuba is marked by a growing uncertainty and a sense of
hopelessness. To many, especially the young, hope is defined as "getting
out."
The construction of this seminary has been a sign of the hope Cuba needs
so badly. The seminary played this role not only in the history of the
Church in Cuba, but also in its civic history, for inside its classrooms
the Cuban national and religious identity was being forged. And that is
what it will do in the future as well.
As Cardinal Ortega said in his speech at the civic ceremony held last
Wednesday, "It's the faith in God, or the suspected or certain presence
of God in our life's horizon, that guarantees the values in the society,
that supports the virtues of human beings in their family and social
life, that serves as the foundation of the people's spirituality. It is
by looking up that men and women surpass their daily lives and are
capable of overcoming crises, of avoiding rancor, of loving and forgiving."
Therefore, he said, referring to the seminary, "this is the fundamental
importance of this house."
In Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict wrote: "A world without God is a world
without hope." When a society closes its door to the infinite, or the
transcendence of the human being, be it by adopting a materialistic
ideology (as is the case of Marxism-Leninism) or adopting a practical
materialism (as it is increasingly happening in our Western democracies)
hope is exiled.
Although Cuba is no longer officially an "atheist" state, 50 years of
Communism during which religious practices have been actively
discouraged, has had an impact on Cuban society. As Jaime said in that
same speech, "from a heart that is empty of God no word can come out
that can be of benefit to our people."
Through it all, the Church, despite its weakened situation and its
reduced numbers, has survived. Today the Cuban Church, more than
surviving, is fighting to give testimony to hope. And, despite the
difficulties and lack of resources, it is bringing in new members and
more space to carry out its mission.
The visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998 surely had an enormous positive
impact. And in hundreds of parishes throughout the island, in numerous
social-aid projects offered by Caritas, Catholics in Cuba can witness
that the hope that has a human face — Jesus Christ — never deceives.
I quote again from the Cardinal of Havana's speech last Wednesday: "From
the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and the men and women
around us, adults or young, expect nothing more than a word to expose
them to deep realities of the spirit.
In summary, the priest and the seminarian, one way or the other, must
speak of God to their people.
How often in the history of the world has the apocalyptic dragon
(Revelation 12:1-17), in its various incarnations, wanted to devour
Christ's wife? However, it is the dragon that at the end is vanquished,
since love is triumphant because it is more powerful than hate. As Pope
Benedict XVI has said: "At all times the Church, God's people, also live
by the light of God and, as the Gospel says, it is nurtured by God.
Thus, the Church, suffering in all tribulations, in every situation in
various eras, in different parts of the world, ends up winning.
It is the presence, the guarantee of the love of God against all
ideologies of hate and selfishness.
This homily was delivered by the archbishop for South Florida last
Sunday after his return from Cuba.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/14/1924521/new-seminary-is-a-sign-of-hope.html
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