(ANS – Havana) - In Cuba there have been many and varied celebrations in honour of Don Bosco, on the occasion of his Feast, 31 January, in the Year of the Bicentenary. Santa Clara, Camaguey, Santiago, and Havana were the venues, and festivities will continue for the rest of 2015. In today's article, and another one next Monday, we describe the celebrations that took place in the Caribbean island.

In Santa Clara, reports Caruchy Castellanos, the Salesian Family and the community of Carmen celebrated the feast of Don Bosco for several days. It began with a Triduum, animated by young people, Salesian Cooperators, and the Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). On the afternoon of 31 January the children joined in with catechism, games and various contests. In the evening, the devotees of Don Bosco gathered in the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in the parish where the Salesians have been for 60 years.

The local bishop Arturo González presided at the Eucharist. He expressed his thanks for the presence of the Salesians in his diocese.  On 1 February they held the traditional Juan Soñador festival, a combination of art and real life stories. The award Gente Meravigliosa (Marvellous People) was conferred on Xiomara Hernández, Marta Martínez and Ada Silverio for their enduring dedication to the formation and development of the younger generation.

Maykel Gómez, SDB, reports that on 31 January, after seven years of waiting, the hymn Salve Don Bosco Santo  was heard once again in the heart of Old Havana. The ancient doors of the old Temple of Compostela dedicated to Mary Help of Christians were open again, but this time not to remove the old ruined benches, but to welcome the faithful for a Mass in honour of Don Bosco, Father and Teacher of Youth. The Temple is still awaiting restoration.

There were exciting moments also on the days before the feast, with the lighting of the niche with the image of the Help of Christians. Adults, children and teenagers shared the work of cleaning and tidying. People were asking "Have they reopened the temple already?" while others declared how proud they were to have been born in that neighbourhood.

The work is not yet complete. There is no electricity. Some of the wooden features are in need of restoration. The bell tower has to be rebuilt and they need a new audio system. Soon, however, the temple will be shining like new, and its gates will never again be closed. The people are looking forward to the official reopening during this Bicentenary Year. Maykel Gómez concluded, "We pray that this dream, now almost a reality, may come true, to continue to bring hope to this district of the capital."

Published 13/02/2015