My Trip to Cuba – Mary Suarez Hamm, April 4, 2012. How does one summarize the range of emotions I have felt in the last week on returning to my native land after fifty years!! I left as a 7 year old, on a ferry boat that was so packed we had to sleep on deck—with fear of falling into the ocean. My trip to my homeland was also made much more traumatic by the fact that in January of 1969 I was on an airplane traveling from Lima, Peru to Miami—and we were hijacked to Cuba and kept there overnight while our plane was returned to the US. I was 14 at the time, traveling by myself, with a Cuban passport. It was terrifying. I was interrogated twice—the people meeting with me knew my family’s political history—and the fact that my father had been in the resistance movement as had my uncles—one of whom had recently died in a Cuban jail. Thanks be to God—I was able to return to the US and resume my life in the DC area. The reality of what I experienced in 1961 completely aligned with the “reality check” of what I saw in 1969. We were given a tour of the “marvels of communism” on that one day – and it was reinforced in my mind that Cuba was a country in economic ruin with few political freedoms. The students that came by the busloads to give us the tour—matching up with us one on one—could not give straight answers to basic human rights questions such as: are you free to travel abroad? Are you free to have the career you would like? As we drove through central Havana—the famous Malecon—it was indeed a city in ruins in 1969. Fast forward to last week—and what I saw once again in downtown Havana, where the government tries desperately to cover up the lack of material wealth—is a city in ruins with a few bright spots. But my trip this time was a chosen one—I was coming on Pilgrimage—to visit my homeland as a pilgrim of faith, hope, and love. It was my faith in my mother – the Holy Catholic Church—and in my Jesus, and His Mother—Our Lady of Charity—la Mambisa—that gave me the strength and courage to go back and face the reality of Cuba in 2012. My pilgrimage also was made reality by Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to my country. I am a Pope Benedict fan. Not only because as the Vicar of Christ I firmly believe him to represent Christ on earth—but because I have read so much of his writings—especially his two volumes on the Life of Christ—and have seen a man who “gets it”—a man who realizes – like so many of our Protestant friends—that at the end of the day—if we do not have a personal relationship with Christ—if we are not in constant conversation with him throughout our day—if we do not measure all we think, say, and do—with his constant teaching as revealed in sacred scripture and explained by the Church’s magisterium—then we have missed the boat. And I have to say—I was not disappointed. Either by his words, or his deeds. The Pope came to Cuba as a pilgrim as well as, as a Pastor. He was both giver and receiver. You could tell that this old man—had an inner strength—that invigorated his words. In reading over his homilies and addresses this morning. I was struck by the number of times that he made reference to what I call the “reality checks” of what is going on in Cuba since the banishment of religion from our island in 1959. Bottom line—religion is back. And in particular the Catholic faith as seen and practiced by the religious and lay people of Cuba—who despite their often primitive notions of what the faith teaches—are hungry to hear the word of God and let it’s positive life-giving message give Hope to their desperate lives. The fact that the Pope’s trip was connected to the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Our Lady of Charity’s finding – the Mambisa as she is lovingly known—allowed for a coupling of cultural and religious images. The Pope and Our Lady. It was moving to see the posters of the Pope and Our Lady placed throughout Havana. No, they were not “plastered” throughout Havana—but strategically placed in churches and public spaces where one could see that something special was happening. The Pope’s opening remarks when he landed in Santiago were thus: “I come as a pilgrim of charity—to confirm my brothers and sisters in the faith and strengthen them in the hope which is born of the presence of God in our lives.” This one sentence sums up the triple action of the Holy Spirit. It was the same motivation I had in going to Cuba. As all pilgrims to Cuba do—we came from the US with as much food and medicine as we could bring. Giving in charity what we in the US have in such abundance. And what the Cubans now lack in such abundance. But our charity takes on a spiritual form – a more important characteristic in the end—our coming means – we care. We are not indifferent. This is the main message of those that come from exile. Some have said—if you are going to help the poor—why not go to another country? Why not?—because in the end—blood is much thicker than water. To help your countrymen—to walk around Cuba and see people who look like you—who share the same manners and characteristics as you—whether in dark or light skin—is tremendously healing for both parties. One of the biggest tragedies of Cuba is the sheer number of Cubans who have left. Over a million have left. Cuban families have been divided by exile, emigration, and imprisonment. And in that exile—like our beloved Bl. Felix Varela—we have been forced to forge our “life’s project” – those 40+ years of productive work—in other places. The fruits of our labors—have gone to other countries. A countries’ biggest asset is its human capital—ours was and is scattered. But in that “scattering” there is great fruit. Cubans have been able to bring their talents and human insights to the whole world, and in particular to the United States. My husband often reminds me that if it had not been for Castro—we would not have met. The immigrant experience has forged a great union of cultures – my children are proudly American, Cuban, Irish, Spanish, and German. God allows things to happen for the greater good. “Omnium bonum” – all things work together for the greater good for those that love God. And so—for those of us who are nearing the end of our work life—who have inculturated to the American way of life, whose children are “launched” – we now have the opportunity to give back. And that is what was engendered in me on this trip. And yet what shape should this giving back take? What do the Cuban people need most? The one word that sums this need up for me is: Accompaniment. (acompañamiento). Coming alongside the Cuban people with our presence. Not telling them what to do, or even giving them things—such an easy thing to do. But coming alongside and being with them—touching them, sharing with them, laughing and crying with them. And in that exchange acknowledging their rights and dignity as children of God. I thank God for my sister and brother in law who planned our tour. For the fact that the tour consisted of seeing what the Church in Cuba is doing. For taking us to the “interior” of the country where the most abject poverty is seen and felt. For letting us talk to and get to know the “ordinary people”—the old ladies in the nursing home, their caretakers, the young street vendors—trying to eek out a living making trinkets—while waiting for a better time to come. But also for allowing us to pray with them, to enter their churches, to hear their songs of praise to God and our Lady. To “show off” if you will—their ability to see good in all things. To do the social work that the Church has always done with the poor, the lonely, and the sick. I thank God for the many men I met who work for the Church, many of them unpaid, who see the value of giving and not counting the cost. Who find in their service to the Church, a meaning that is often denied to them in their work for a government that does not allow personal advancement in a system that rewards mediocrity. You get the same salary no matter how you do your job. Socialism has failed Cuba. Of that there is no doubt. Fidel Castro himself admitted as much in an interview on Sept 8th—2010 – when he said: "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore." Changes are coming slowly to Cuba. Cell phones and e-mail are breaking the information barrier. Much more needs to be done. Now that the Pope has gone back. It is up to all of us to continue the fight. To continue to help our brothers and sisters in Cuba. To do as St. Agustine taught—“pray as though everything depended on God, and work as though everything depended on you.” It is in the unique, unrepeatable balance of prayer and work that each one will help to bring hope and healing to Cuba. That is the patrimony of the Communion of Saints. That is the message of this Pope. Of our Lady – who as one country priest told us – “ella se mete donde ella quiere” – she goes wherever she feels like. As I was traveling those short 90 miles to Cuba from Miami—I saw in my minds eye—the thousands of pilgrims coming to Cuba with the Pope—coming to bring Charity, Faith, and Hope. “La Caridad nos Une”—was the theme of the trip. It was a play on words. The Virgin in Cuba is called – La Caridad—and in fact she does unite, within and without the government, within and without the Church. A holy woman unites us—as all truly feminine women do—building bridges between separated brethren—bringing us all to her Son. Let us all go forth and do as the Pope said. Focus on the human persons—taking account of the most profound human need- the need for love and acceptance—a need only fulfilled by God. It is in fulfilling this need that “real progress” will be made in Cuba. Not because we will not meet their physical needs—but because as the Pope said: “.. the rebirth of society demands upright men and women of firm moral convictions, with noble and strong values who will not be manipulated by dubious interests and who are respectful of the unchanging and transcended nature of the human person. “ Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you Mambisa, thank you Pope Benedict, thank you to all my family and friends who made this trip possible. I love you all.