Spirituality of the Cuban Association

For many years, our Association enjoyed and benefited from the spiritual direction of Mons. Agustín Román+ (shown in accompanying photo), one of the retired auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Miami, who became the first Cuban ever to be appointed bishop in the United States and was responsible in 1986 for bringing about a peaceful resolution to prison uprisings in Atlanta, GA, and Oakdale, CA.

After Roman’s death in April 2012, Mons. Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, became Head Chaplain of our Association in August of that year. Assisting him have been Msgr. Jose Estevez, Bishop of St. Augustine, Msgr. Mario Guijarro de Corzo (in Puerto Rico), Fr. Fernando Hería and Fr. Richard Vigoa (in Miami), and Fr. Miguel Troadio (in Cuba). Sadly, another chaplain, Msgr. Tomás Marín passed on to the Lord in early 2019.

Since the Cuban revolution, there had been no active clergy in Cuba until 2004, when Mons. Alfredo Petit y Vergel, Auxiliary Bishop of Havana, was named Conventual Chaplain Ad Honorem. Petit retired in early 2019.

In 2020, faced with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the “Second Class” of the Order’s Cuban members decided that our Cuban Association should pray more fervently for an end to the crisis.  Thus, the “Online Rosary” was created.

Each week, one member of the Cuban Association and his/her spouse lead the rest of the attendees through the recitation of the msyteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As we have scheduled the Rosary on a Tuesday when there is no “Noche de Espiritualidad,” the meditation for the Rosary are the Sorrowful Mysteries.

Despite the length of a Rosary being short (usually less than 30 minutes), the Rosary meditation remains one of the most impactful acts one can make.  And, since we believe in the power of prayer, we know that the Rosary meetings have helped those in need throughout all of 2020.  We look forward to continuing this relatively new experience in the coming years.

We invite you to join us on a Tuesday night to pray along with the Cuban Association!  For more information, including details on the Zoom meeting code, please email spirituality@foundationorderofmalta.org.

Twice a year, the Catholic Church provides us an opportunity to celebrate two special periods of preparation: Lent and Advent.

So that we may be further nourished in our own preparation for the coming of Easter and Christmas, the Cuban Association, through its spirituality group, offers its members and friends an opportunity to step back and reflect on these important celebrations.

In February (for Lent) and December (for Advent), we gather together for a morning, where we hear a number of talks and meditations; avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; and also celebrate the Eucharist as a community.

The morning of reflection is a great opportunity for the Cuban Association to step back, disconnect from the day-to-day pressures, and listen to the importance of these holidays to our faith.

In 2021, we will celebrate the following mornings of reflection:

-Saturday, February 20, 2021

-Saturday, December 4, 2021

For more information on each of these events, including location and time, please check back to this site and/or email spirituality@foundationorderofmalta.org.

Throughout the course of the year, the Cuban Association stages several special events that complement our Spirituality activities.  Typically, each one of these events marks a solemn celebration in the Order’s, or the Association’s history.

These activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  World Day of the Sick (in February) – an awareness day, that was instituted by St. Pope John Paul II; in this Mass, we gather to pray for the sick and those afflicted by ailments.

• Mass of St. John the Baptist (usually on the Saturday closest to June 24) – commemorates the Order of Malta’s founder, and is usually followed by the Association’s Capitulo General (Chapter General), where the Board reviews the activities of the prior year.

• Mass for Volunteers – usually during the early summer – here, the Association recognizes the many volunteers that help support its signature programs (i.e. Casa de Malta, Medical Missions, etc.).  Many individuals receive prizes or “Condecoraciones” for their service to these activities.

• Our Lady of Charity of Cobre – September 8 is the Feat of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; in Cuba, this feast day also recognizes the sighting by three fishermen in Cuba of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the bay of the town of Cobre; concelebrated by our Head Chaplain, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, this Mass is a major celebration where our members lead the procession of the Virgin to the Mass.

• Investiture Mass – a special celebration whereby the Order welcomes its newest members; the Mass includes the vows, or promises to the Order and its two major Charisms: “Obsequim Pauperum” and “Tuitio Fidei”.

One of the distinctive marks of these special events, especially at Mass, is that the Order’s members will wear their “Habito” as vestments.  The “Habito” is the Church robe or cloak of a Knight or Dame, and is complemented by a “Scapular,” which is meant to remind a member of their pledge to the Order.

For more information on our Special Events, please consult the Annual Calendar (should have a link here), check back frequently to this site and/or email spirituality@foundationorderofmalta.org.