Cuba

After moving to Miami in 1993, I was thrust into my Hispanic culture in a way I had not experienced since I was a child in Cuba. In December, 1997, during our General Chapter, I had a powerful epiphany. God’s message to return home was very clear in my mind and heart.

My first journey back took place in the summer of 1998. My primary motivation was to reconnect with my family. I had forgotten what it was like to be among my very own. Since that trip, I have continued to travel back to Cuba for a month each year. My motivation has shifted to a deep concern over the economic and social injustices against the people of Cuba.

I am committed to this personal mission. Every December, God provides me with the grace needed for the journey. This grace is the force that guides and energizes me to continue to hope for positive changes. The spiritual and financial support of our sisters and my friends strengthen my resolve. In addition to assisting my family emotionally and financially, I have sought and gained donations from our Congregation and private donors that have supported the ministries of the Dominican Sisters in Havana and Marti, Matanzas.

The Sisters reside in very poor and marginal areas of the country. My yearly journey, with its inherent risks and challenges, provides me with an extremely rewarding experience. These fruitful and, at times, painful moments continue to help me stay focused on our Vision. I have developed a deeper awareness and appreciation for simplicity. Living comfortably as I do when I return to the U.S., it would be easy to forget the poverty and hardship others suffer. But I remember because my daily life and prayer are shaped by this extraordinary experience.