Easter meeting in Barajagua, Cuba, next to Our Lady and Poveda

Followers of Jesus, with the charism received by Saint Pedro Poveda, celebrated an Easter Meeting at the place where Our Lady of Charity, Patroness of Cuba, was first venerated.

It has become a tradition for members and friends of Teresian Association in Holguín, Cuba, to gather for Easter. On this occasion, the chosen location was Barajagua, in the Province of Holguín, recognized in 2012 as a National Monument.

For the Teresian Association, the place holds special significance given that a bone relic of Saint Pedro Poveda was placed on its altar. He was not only a founder and saint, but also a martyr who gave his life for the faith.

The event began early with all gathering at a central area of Holguín, where the transportation truck parked to take the pilgrims on a trip that lasted over an hour. During the trip, they recalled how Poveda’s relic had arrived in Barajagua and discussed Marian devotion of the TA as Pedro Poveda wanted, and they learned about the tradition of the Voto of Covadonga, when representatives of the Association from different parts of the world go as pilgrims to Our Lady of Covadonga (North of Spain) and present the different realities where the TA lives the mission.

Eucharist

Father Francisco Expósito presided over the Eucharist, commenting on the readings from the Mass for Saint Pedro Poveda and emphasizing Jesus’ command to be salt and light, to give glory to God.

He said that the taste of salt “is the love of God, which He has given us and which we must give to others.”

“Be salt and be light, in everything and in everyday life,” he emphasized. “And in the case of the Association, through education and culture as instruments of evangelization.”

After the Eucharist, there was a time to share a snack and share what each person had contributed.

The Barajagua temple marks the spot where the image of the Mary was found floating in Nipe Bay in 1612, on a tablet that read, “I am the Virgin of Charity.” Found by two Native Americans and a Black slave while searching for salt supplies They placed it in their boat and took it down the river to the Hato de Barajagua, where it remained for about six months until being transported to the town of El Cobre, in Santiago de Cuba, where it is venerated today as the Patroness of Cuba.

The name Barajagua is formed from two words: bara, which means sea, and jagua, which is a tree native to this area that produces an edible, fleshy, and acidic fruit that the Native Americans used to paint their bodies. The area is part of the Diocese of Holguín, where the TA has been present since 2010.

At the end of the Eucharist, Father Expósito invited those present to approach the altar to kiss the relic of Saint Pedro Poveda, while the words of the martyred priest were sung:

Lord that I may think what You want me to think,
That I may want what You want me to want,
That I may speak what You want me to speak,
That I may act what You want me to act...
That is my only ambition.

 Araceli Cantero, Barajagua, Cuba.