In the very heart of the region of Santa Clara in Cuba, nestled between the rolling hills amidst acres of green fields, lies the growing suburb of Santa Ana, marked by its vivacious colours, simplicity of rural life and poverty, much poverty.
For any researcher of Cuba, Santa Ana may not hold any importance, but for us parishioners of St Anne in Marsascala, this little parish has been held most dear since a missionary twinning was established with this parish six years ago. It was the brainchild of Fr Anton Cassar who was then parish priest in Marsascala.
The parish of Santa Ana is the poorest among five parishes that comprise the diocese of Santa Clara.
Our friendship with Santa Ana as a parish was much strengthened when a delegation of 15 parishioners from the Marsascala parish of St Anne paid a two-week visit to our namesake in far away Cuba during September 2006.
We still cherish with warmth the lovely memories of friendship we established with our counterparts at Santa Ana: The simple celebrations of Mass in their poor parish chapel, the heartrending visits to some of the 10 mission stations at the periphery of the parish, the joyful parties when we mixed with the parishioners, and above all the bonding with the Maltese parish priest of Santa Ana, Fr Philip Cutajar, who works so hard to literally spread the Good News among the poor.
Last week we received a momentous communication from our friend Fr Cutajar, announcing that they have just been granted formal permission to build a new church which shall be dedicated to St Anne.
It will cater for the pastoral care of some 50,000 surrounding inhabitants of this parish. We welcomed this communication which was piled with joy at the great news and also with love for us as a twin parish, thanking us for how we walked with them in exchange of friendship and prayer for the past six years.
For us, this is indeed a great moment and a milestone in the story of our twinning, even because for the past 50 years, Cuba has withheld authorisation for the building of new Catholic churches.
The parish church of St Anne will be the first church to be erected in Cuba after all these years!
In human solidarity we feel so close to our friends in Santa Ana, Cuba and wish them the very best on their new venture of building their new parish church. So much for the privilege of friendship and the power of prayer.
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever. With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. For your steadfast love was established forever, Your faithfulness is firm as the heavens!
Psalm 89
Fr Micallef is parish priest of the St Anne parish in Marsascala.