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The Oasis Franciscano, a daytime center for vulnerable senior adults located in the San Pedro Apóstol community in the Versalles neighborhood of Matanzas, serves more than 80 beneficiaries twice a week with food, companionship, and spiritual care, according to reported Cáritas Cuba.
On April 21, the center celebrated its second anniversary with a thanksgiving mass and training activities, on a date of special significance: it coincides with the Jubilee marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi and the 25th anniversary of the presence of the Conventual Friars Minor in Cuba.
The dining hall operates thanks to the funding from the Italian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the coordination of volunteers from the parish Caritas, under the guidance of priests P. Luigi Moretti and P. Raúl Alvarado.
Father Raúl explains the scope of the service: "We provide assistance twice a week. On Tuesdays, we prepare a kind of 'soup', and on Fridays, the menu includes rice, meats, and side dishes... Our primary goal is that people don’t just come to eat; the food is a bonus. What is essential is to feel accompanied, listened to, and welcomed."
In addition to the dining room, the center distributes home meal delivery for those who are unable to travel, has a drinking water treatment plant that benefits local residents, and provides a weekly personal assistance service for elderly individuals in more complex situations.
The priest also emphasizes the role of the parish garden: "Today, we sustain the service with our own contributions and enhance the parish garden, a project of Caritas that has been growing."
Among the beneficiaries is Matilde Santos Concepción, 93 years old, who was enjoying a broth at noon when she was interviewed by Cáritas Cuba.
Another beneficiary, Lizarys Padrón Rosales, sums up what the center means for her family: "I have lupus, and I live with my 90-year-old mother and my 72-year-old brother, who has had a leg amputated."
"Here we have found great help. This lunch means a lot to my family, but above all, we are moved by their closeness and the attention they provide us."
The role of volunteering is central to the operation of the Oasis. The senior dining halls in Cuba are sustained thanks to the support of religious organizations and international donors in the absence of the State.
Volunteer Magda Hernández captures it clearly: "Humble people with good hearts eagerly await this help that restores their joy and serves as an antidote to loneliness."
This context of institutional abandonment is acknowledged by the Cuban authorities themselves. The government admitted to lacking resources to assist vulnerable individuals last March, leaving organizations like Cáritas as the main support network for the elderly.
The situation is especially serious considering that Cuba is the most aged country in Latin America, with 25% of its population over the age of 60, while 99% of retirees acknowledge that their income is insufficient to cover basic needs.
Nationally, the Church of El Cobre assists 500 vulnerable individuals amid the crisis, and Caritas Cuba distributes humanitarian aid to up to 24,000 people across the country, prioritizing the elderly, the sick, and individuals with disabilities.
Father Luigi Moretti concluded the anniversary celebration with words of gratitude towards the team: "Thank you very much to the Caritas team for the wonderful service you provide to our Diocese. May the Lord reward you with His great love!"
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