Florida Catholic | La Virgen de la Caridad

Area Catholics pay homage to the patroness of Cuba

ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 09.28.07

ED FOSTER JR. | FC

ORLANDO | It was a day of faith and patriotism. Hundreds of devotees of Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba, gathered Sept. 8 at the Cathedral of St. James in Orlando.

“We are here to honor our patroness and to remember our fatherland,” said Wilfrido Aparicio.

Bishop Thomas Wenski concelebrated the Mass, honoring the feast day with Father Tomás Hurtado of St. John Vianney Parish in Orlando and Father Rodolfo Cabrera of St. Jude Parish in Ocala.

“La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity of Cobre) is the star that has always guided the Cuban people — and all those who put their trust in her — to her son, Jesus,” Father Hurtado said in his homily.

He shared the story of a man from Mexico who asked him to bless a picture. He was surprised to see that it was a picture Our Lady of Charity. The man explained that after commending himself to Our Lady of Charity he was able to realize his dream of moving to the United States. In thanksgiving, he fulfilled his promise to have the picture blessed and placed in his home.

“This is another evidence of the fact that Our Lady of Charity not only extends her help to Cubans, but to anyone who would put trust in her,” Father Hurtado said.

Florita Figueroa, who is Puerto Rican, said, “This is my first time here. The Mass was beautiful.” She learned about the special Mass from the diocese’s Spanish-language radio station, Buena Nueva FM 104.1 Subcarrier.

Return to Diocese of Orlando Front Page

Area Catholics pay homage to the patroness of Cuba

Other Stories