The formerly quiet progress in Cuba

…is suddently getting more notice.

Yesterday, this little item caught my attention.

The Italian news agency SIR has reported that more than 100 seminarians will be able to study in the new seminary of the Archdiocese of Havana, the first to be built in 50 years in Cuba.

Construction of the new seminary began in July of 2006 and will be some 10 miles outside Havana, on 54 acres of land.

‘Who knew?!’, I thought.

Then today, Pope Benedict addressed the Cuban Bishops Conference after their “ad limina” visit at the Vatican.

The Holy Father began his address to the bishops by underlining “the vitality of the Church in Cuba, as well as its unity and its commitment to Jesus Christ”. He also remarked upon the “profound change” in ecclesial life in Cuba “especially since the celebration of the Cuban National Ecclesial Meeting, now more than 20 years ago, and above all following the historic visit to Cuba in 1998 by my venerated predecessor Pope John Paul II”.

He then focused on vocations, which reinforces the work of building that seminary outside Havana.

After thanking priests for “their faithfulness and tireless service to the Church and the faithful”, the Holy Father expressed the hope that “an increase in vocations and the simultaneous adoption of appropriate measures in this field, may soon enable the Cuban Church to have a sufficient number of priests, as well as the churches and places of worship necessary to accomplish her strictly pastoral and spiritual mission”.

“It is necessary”, he went on, “to continue promoting a specific form of vocational pastoral care, one that is not afraid of encouraging the young to follow the footsteps of Christ, Who alone is capable of satisfying their longing for love and happiness”. At the same time he encouraged the prelates to ensure seminarians have “the best possible spiritual, intellectual and human formation” so that, “identifying themselves with the Heart of Christ”, they can shoulder “the commitment to the priestly ministry”.

This is a message he repeated, in some form, at most of his stops on the American visit, especially at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York.

Let us thank God for all those who strive to ensure that you can grow up in an environment that nurtures what is beautiful, good, and true: your parents and grandparents, your teachers and priests, those civic leaders who seek what is right and just.

That may have slipped by some people’s attention, but throughout the week Benedict referred time and again to pursuit of the truth, of what is good and right and just.

And he told the young adults to listen for God’s call in their lives.

What matters most is that you develop your personal relationship with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer. God by his very nature speaks, hears, and replies…

There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation. Saint John, for example, tells us that to embrace God’s revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen (cf. 1 Jn 1:2-3; Dei Verbum, 1).

To the Cuban bishops, Benedict pointed out the role of a well-formed laity in the Church and the world.

The Pope also stressed how, with an “intense spiritual life and the support of a solid religious education”, the laity “will be able to offer convincing testimony of their faith in all areas of society, illuminating them with the light of the Gospel. In this context, it is my hope that the Church in Cuba, in keeping with her legitimate aspirations, may enjoy normal access to the social communications media”.

That’s another message Benedict repeated throughout his American visit, the responsibility to bring a morally informed voice to dialogue and debate in the public square. One of those times was in his homily at Yankee Stadium.

Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means being constantly alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of present and future with confidence in Christ’s victory and a commitment to extending his reign. It means not losing heart in the face of resistance, adversity and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, “there is no human activity – even in secular affairs – which can be withdrawn from God’s dominion” (Lumen Gentium, 36).

Not in America, Cuba, or anywhere else in the world where the Church is under duress.

Benedict’s messages continue to illuminate and encourage. Whoever hears his gentle but incisive words loses whatever excuse they had not to act on these truths about goodness and justice, dignity and freedom.