Related videos:
A Cuban who works as a network administrator at the Diocese of Santa Clara recently completed the Camino de Santiago, a journey of about 800 kilometers in which, as he shared, he constantly prayed for a change in Cuba.
Yenkys González, a native of Santa Clara, shared an unusual experience with Cubanet that is uncommon among citizens living on the island.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive in Santiago de Compostela from various parts of the world, but Cubans barely appear in the official records of the Pilgrim's Office, largely due to the economic and mobility challenges involved in undertaking this type of journey.
González was able to embark on the journey thanks to the invitation from a friend in his congregation of the Salesian cooperators.
Their journey began in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, one of the most well-known starting points of the Camino Francés, the most traveled route to Compostela.
“In the same office where I registered, they were surprised that I was Cuban. They told me I was the first person that individual had signed up in their 30 years working there”, he shared with the media.
For several weeks, he traveled alongside other pilgrims, covering daily distances of between 20 and 30 kilometers.
"Initially, there were just two of us, but then other pilgrims started to join in. In total, we ended up gathering 14," he explained.
The experience, as he recounted, goes beyond physical effort: “What’s essential is that you also learn to live with little, to share. It changes your life.”
Throughout the 40 days of the journey, Cuba was a constant in their thoughts.
"Even though it's a beautiful experience, in the end, it's a pilgrimage that translates into an offering. I offered that path because of the situation in this country, and all the time I prayed for Cuba, for there to be a change in any form.", he affirmed.
He recounts that the contrast between what he saw during the journey and the reality on the island also profoundly impacted him.
"Many times along the way you find yourself alone, thinking about your people. You see simple things like trees full of apples that are rotting, and then it occurs to you how few parents here can even buy fruits for their children," they pointed out.
He says that one of the most significant moments took place in O Cebreiro, a mountainous village in Galicia.
In the church of Santa María la Real, associated with an ancient Eucharistic miracle, he experienced something he considers special.
"I lit a candle in front of the relics in the church and stayed there until it burned out. I began to think about Cuba and started to cry. I felt someone touch me from behind and asked if I was Cuban. It turned out to be a priest, also Cuban, who was on a pilgrimage. What were the odds of something like that happening?" he recounted.
After leaving the temple, another coincidence reinforced his spiritual interpretation of the journey.
In a souvenir shop, a seller handed him two pins featuring the symbol of the Camino and the Cuban flag, which he claimed had been reserved for him.
“It was not a coincidence. I have faith that God listened to me, because somehow I feel that Cuba is changing”, he affirmed.
Back in Santa Clara, González has returned to his work at the Bishopric and his collaboration with the parish of El Carmen, where he is involved in social projects aimed at vulnerable individuals.
Among them, the program "I Was Hungry" stands out, providing food to more than 400 people, as well as a dispensary for donated medications.
"Most parishes are focused on helping many people in various ways. We continue with the project, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, breakfast is offered to both low-income individuals and elderly people living alone, as well as mothers with children who have nothing to eat," he explained.
Despite having the opportunity to stay abroad, their decision was to return.
"Many people told me, if you've already left, how are you going to come back, but that wasn't my goal. I have many things left to do. My work right now is here," he concluded.
After completing one of the most emblematic pilgrimage routes in the world, their request—repeated at every stage of the Camino—remains focused on Cuba.
Filed under: