Our Work in Cuba
In the summer of 2021, Cuba became part of the Piarist Fathers Province of the United States and Puerto Rico. We have ministries in Guanabacoa, Cuba: Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Mary; Guanabacoa, Cuba: Socio-educational Center for Non-Formal Education; and Havana, Cuba: San Judas and San Nicholas de Bari Parish. This is a very unique ministry within the Province that navigates the challenging political climate currently in Cuba. The need for Cuban Piarist community support, building and structural repair to The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Mary and St. Jude/St. Nicholas parish, vocation efforts, support for the Socio-educational centers in Guanabacoa and Havana and basic humanitarian aid is our current focus.
Because of the complex nature of this ministry, it is best to contact the Piarist Fathers Province of the United States and Puerto Rico Development Director, Mr. Kevin Owens, at piaristfl@bellsouth.net with any specific questions you may have.
The Province is blessed with a very large, supportive and loving community of Cubans. We are working hard, hand in hand, to make a difference.
Projects Include:
Donations received for the Cuba Project will be dispersed to the donors wish.
We are excited to announce our collaboration with ITAKA to help fund our work with youth in our Cultural Centers in Havana and Guanabacoa. ITAKA assists to cover some of the the costs of this ministry including scholarships, teacher training, transportation, meals, materials for the various educational programs offered and maintenance of the facilities. The goal is to offer these much needed programs without further burdening the severe economic hardships that most families in Cuba currently face.
Who is ITAKA?
“ITAKA ESCOLAPIOS is a Foundation created and encouraged by the Piarist Fathers and the Scolopi fraternity.
We are convinced that education of the most disadvantaged people is the better way to change the world and to create a better future by encouraging new generations to take responsibility in sharing the best of themselves.
We think it is possible to make a world as God dreamed only if we try to make it real. Because of this, our path is education, which announces the Gospel of Jesus and gets deeply involved in our environment, involving our whole life.”
2024-2025 ITAKA CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES: BREAKING WAYS
Every year, from Itaka-Escolapios we promote a solidarity campaign in all the places where we are present. This year, we want to encourage all the participants to open new paths of hope in our world, in our localities, in our centers… because we can be real protagonists of the social change from education. Following the example of St. Joseph Calasanz, we work to open roads that lead to a more just, fraternal and humane world.
Specifically, this year, the Breaking Ways campaign seeks to:
SOLIDARITY DESTINATION OF THE “BREAKING WAYS” CAMPAIGN
Since the beginning of the Itaka-Escolapios network, we have worked to support the Piarist mission in different parts of the world. In this year’s “Breaking ways” campaign 2024-2025, the donations raised will allow us to maintain and expand the scope of educational and social projects in various countries, providing an opportunity to transform the lives of many people.
The funds raised will contribute to the projects we support in the network countries where the Pious Schools continue to open paths of hope through formal and non-formal education. With your help, we will continue offering quality education, socio-educational attention, school canteens, sustainable development programs, and support to the most vulnerable groups, whether they are children, youth, elderly…
With your collaboration, we are contributing to create a better, more just and supportive future. Breaking ways invites us to walk together towards a world in which education is the key to change and social justice
You can approach right now to some of these projects through the work that we propose in each of the activities that can be viewed at www.escolapios.org , or reviewing all the information included in their files: