(ANS - Santa Clara)- Today, 9 December,  we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of  the arrival of the Servant of God Fr José Vandor in Santa Clara. "Ahead of him lay a hopeful future for himself  and for the mission that he was asked to start in the land. He was entrusted with the spiritual care of the chapel of Carmen and the construction of a school for poor children which would later be given the name 'Rosa Pérez Velasco' after a teacher from Santa Clara. She was the one who had started the process that led to the arrival of the Salesians in Santa Clara.  Sadly, she  died suddenly before the arrival of Fr  Vandor.” (from the bulletin “El Peregrino").

by Caruchy Castellanos

"Fr Vandor was a versatile man, with many human and spiritual qualities. He is remembered as a pastor, who found joy in bringing the message of the Gospel.  He was sustained by faith in Christ who died and rose again, and who always gives rise to hope. Even in the darkest moments of Cuban history, during the 1960s and ‘70s, Fr Vandor did not give way to discouragement, pessimism or frustration. On the contrary,  it was always his desire to give of his best. Above all, he tried to show those who came into contact with him that faith can give light and generate life even when everything seemed doomed  to failure and defeat."

These days the Salesian community in Santa Clara is also celebrating the dedication of a new shrine to Our Lady of Charity.  To mark the occasion the Youth Ministry team of the Diocese of Santa Clara organized a meeting on Saturday 29 November at the Cathedral. More than 400 young people emjoyed a day of celebration with singing, theatre performances and games. The day finished with Mass in the shrine celebrated by Bishop Arturo González Amador.

The celebrations were enhanced by the first performance of a new band recently formed in the Salesian parish, composed of teenagers and young adults.

Published 09/12/2014