Cubans attend masses and bless their pets in the Rincón de San Lázaro in Hialeah

Cuban residents in Florida attended this Saturday to celebrate masses and bless their pets in Rincón deSt. Lazarus in Hialeah, on the eve of the feast of the miraculous and healing saint.

The intense rains that fell the day before in Hialeah and other locations in Florida somewhat slowed down the participation of the faithful. However, a large group of them came to the church located at 1190 E 4th Ave to show their devotion to the “Old Man.”

As happens every year, both the day before and on December 17 itself, when the saint's holiday is celebrated, Cubans flock to this temple to thank him for a miracle or wish granted, or to make a request.

Flowers, incense and candles were offered to the saint venerated by Cubans as Babalú Ayé in the Afro-Cuban religion. The mass was celebrated at five in the afternoon, officiated by the priest Bárbaro González, who shortly after proceeded to bless the pets of the faithful.

This Sunday, the Rincón de San Lázaro Church in Hialeah will celebrate mass at 10 in the morning, at 12:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m. Two hours later, a procession will take place in honor of the saint.

While this is happening in Hialeah, once again thousands of people gathered in Havana to venerate the miraculous saint. The rains that fell on Saturday in the capitalThey did not prevent the pilgrimage of Cubans to the National Shrine of El Rincón, on the eve of the celebration of Saint Lazarus.

Thousands of other people went from midnight on Friday to the National Sanctuary of San Lázaro, in El Rincón de Santiago de Las Vegas, to pay promises made to the saint, thank him, make a request or simply pay tribute to him.

Although the day dawned with a fine drizzle in the town of Santiago de Las Vegas, hundreds of people walked before dawn to the place, where believers gave the saint their offerings in payment for a promise, or asked him for his miraculous intercession for matters of your life and health.