Catholic Church: Mediator between Dictatorship & Opposition

"Overcome evil with good" -Father Jerzy Popieluszko

Vatican foreign minister arrived in Cuba on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 to attend Catholic Social Week & meet with regime leadership according to the Associated Press to address island's economic plight and activists hope to obtain release of political prisoners. Picture above by AP of Vatican foreign minister Monsignor Dominique Mamberti and the Cuban foreign minister.

Program X Catholic Social Week
From 16 to June 20, 2010  
Casa San Juan María Vianney

The Catholic Church in Cuba: a bridge for dialogue and encounter (excerpt)

We have recognized that the outcome of this mediation has been a triumph for Cardinal Jaime Ortega (i.e. for the Catholic Church in Cuba), for the Ladies in White and the Cuban government. However, we know that the best way to assimilate this outcome – until now - positive, is not triumphalist, but has to be done with the humility necessary to raise awareness that the disposition to meet and dialogue, to achieve understanding and consensus , is the best service we can offer for the general welfare of the nation. 
 

To obtain this welfare, it is necessary to express it, transits today by: providing a definitive agreement for the treatment of the Ladies in White, resolve the sensitive issue of political prisoners, finding the best way for all Cubans to be able to express their views and always seek consensus among all, renew cultural anthropology of the Cuban, re-found economic structures, and achieve better relations with the world – also with the United States

Above extract from the Digital Supplement to Espacio Laical Magazine No.102 June 2010



Wednesday 16
12:30 p.m. Lunch for delegates.
3:00 p.m. Meeting with delegates to provide general guidance on Social Week.
4:30 p.m. Strong Snack
5:15 p.m. Travel to the auditorium at San Gerónimo College. 6:00 p.m. Inaugural lecture by Monsignor Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States, of the Vatican. Aula Magna of the University College San Gerónimo
8:30 p.m. Concert in the Minor Basilica of San Francisco de Asis.
11:00 p.m. Strong Snack


Thursday 17

7:30 a.m. Marian Act.

8:30 a.m. Breakfast.

9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks by Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino, Archbishop of Havana, and of Monsignor Emilio Aranguren, bishop of Holguín and president of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.

9:30 a.m. Presentation of the encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in veritate. Father Jorge Cela, sj.

10:30 a.m. Break.

11:00 a.m. Debate about the presentation of the encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XVI Caritas in veritate.

12:15 p.m. Lunch.

2:30 p.m. Panel on dialogue among Cubans. Participants: Aurelio Alonso, Jorge Ignacio Dominguez and Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. Coordinator: Habey Hechavarria Prado.

4: 00 p.m. Break.

4: 30 p.m. Debate on the dialogue among Cubans.

6:00 p.m. Rest.

7:00 p.m. Dinner.

8:00 p.m. Departure for the SMI Cathedral of Havana.

8.30 p.m. Solemn Mass in the Cathedral of Havana SMI.

10:00 p.m. Public gesture at the San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary.

Friday 18

7:30 am. Mass.

9:00 a.m. Panel on public spaces of the Church. Participants: Maritza Sánchez (Social work of the Church), Sergio Lázaro Cabarruvy (Social communications media), Maria Caridad Campistrous (Educational activities), Roberto Méndez (Relation with the world of Culture) and Gustavo Andujar (Presence of the laity)

Coordinator: Leni Gonzalez Mederos.

11:30 a.m. Break.

11:45 a.m. Debate about the panel on public spaces of the Church.

12:30 p.m. Lunch. 2:30 p.m. Panel on economy and society. Participants: Pavel Vidal, Omar Everleny,Carmelo Mesa-Lago and Cristina Calvo. Coordinator: Reydel Robles.

4: 30 p.m. Break with strong snack.

5: 00 p.m. Debate on economy and society.

6:00 p.m. Rest.

6:45 p.m. Leave for the Vatican embassy.

7:00 p.m. Reception at the Vatican embassy.

10:30 p.m. Strong Snack

Saturday 19
8:00 a.m. Lauds.

8:30 a.m. Breakfast.

9:00 a.m. Panel on reconciliation among Cubans. Participants: Father Juan Carlos
Carballo, Rafael Hernández, Arturo López-Levy and Lenier González. Coordinator: Osvaldo Gallardo.

11:00 a.m. Break.

11:30 a.m. Debate on reconciliation among Cubans.

12:15 p.m. Lunch

2:30 p.m. Exhibition on how to integrate the topics presented during the Social Week
to the pastoral task of the Catholic Church in Cuba. Father Jorge Cela, SJ.
(Only for delegates from the Catholic Church.)

3: 30 p.m. Break.

4: 00 p.m. Debate on the involvement of Father Jorge Cela, SJ. (Only for delegates
of the Catholic Church.)

6:15 p.m. Closing Mass

7:30 p.m. Dinner.

8:30 p.m. Exhibition of paintings of the Virgin Mary

Thank you to Dora Amador's blog Palabra Cubana for pointing me in the right direction for information on this meeting and the Cuban Church.