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Ten Catholic couples from the town of El Cobre, in Santiago de Cuba, joined their lives in the sacrament of marriage during an emotional collective ceremony held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, the most important temple in Cuba.
The couples, of various ages, are a result of the evangelization from the Emmaus retreats, a Catholic spiritual renewal movement present in several provinces of the island.
The weddings took place during the Mass, with the participation of numerous families from the village, who enthusiastically embraced the occasion.
The Christ in Cuba-Emaús Foundation, which promoted the event under the slogan "Transforming Cuba with Christ," described the day as "a beautiful community celebration in the house of the Mother of all Cubans."
The family pastoral of El Cobre took the opportunity for about 60 married couples, all members of Emaús, to renew their marital vows during the celebration.
After the religious ceremony, the community organized a party and a special dinner for the newlyweds, paying attention to every detail, and even arranged a honeymoon night for the new couples.
The foundation emphasized the significance of the event in the current context of the island: "In these very tough and difficult times for Cuba, the Church in El Cobre chooses to strengthen the family in Christ."
The event takes on special significance given the deterioration of family structures in Cuba. In 2025, more than 21,000 divorce-related cases were recorded, accounting for 78% of the judicial proceedings associated with the Family Code.
The Santuario del Cobre suffered severe damage from Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, with parts of the temple in ruins and ornaments affected, making the celebration also a symbol of recovery for the community.
In the same context of crisis, the Cuban priest Alberto Reyes publicly described Cuba as "a bankrupt country" and spoke of a "spiral of misery," words that reflect the atmosphere of despair that the Church seeks to counteract with initiatives like this.
Cuba celebrated in May 2026 the 110th anniversary of the proclamation of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre as the national patron, which adds an additional symbolic framework to the collective wedding held at her sanctuary.
The Cristo en Cuba-Emaús Foundation concluded its account of the event with a phrase that encapsulates the spirit of the celebration: "In the face of pain, darkness, lack, and suffering, the Church shares life in Christ, where our Hope resides. Our Today is our everything."
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