Archdiocese of Miami
9401 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami Shores, FL 33138
www.miamiarch.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Archbishop Wenski opens Jubilee Year for Virgin of Charity, welcomes
Pope’s visit
to Cuba
MIAMI (Jan. 5, 2012)– Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Auxiliary Bishop
Emeritus
Agustín Roman will open the Marian Jubilee Year commemorating 400 years
of the
discovery of the image of the Virgin of Charity, patroness of Cuba, with
a Mass at 8
p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami
– a Mass
that will parallel the one taking place in Cuba the same day.
Using the motto "To Jesus through Mary: Charity Unites Us," the Church
in Cuba and
in Miami have had three years of preparation with pastoral, charitable
and
missionary activities. On Dec. 30, 2011, Archbishop Wenski joined Cuban
bishops in a
celebration that marked the end of the pilgrimage of the image of the
Virgin through
the island. The Jubilee Year also will be marked by the upcoming visit
of Pope
Benedict XVI to Cuba, March 26-28. Archbishop Wenski believes the
pilgrimage of the
image as well asthe Holy Father’s visit "will help to unite the Cuban
people,"
which is "one people wherever they are."
Better known as La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, the statue of Our
Lady of Charity
was found in 1612 floating in stormy waters in El Cobre, by three
laborers who
considered it an answer to their prayers for safety. The original statue
remains in
El Cobre, while a replica was smuggled out of Cuba and brought to Miami
in 1961,
just in time for her Sept. 8 feast day.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Charity is located at 3609 South Miami Avenue
in Miami.
**Interview Opportunity**
The only interview opportunity will be prior to the Mass on Saturday,
where
Archbishop Wenski, Bishop Roman and Father Juan Rumín Dominguez, rector
of the
Shrine, will be available at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Felix
Varela Center
(next door to the Shrine).
Media are welcome.