A Christian pastor from the municipality of Minas, in the province of Camagüey, reported that Cuban authorities prohibited his church from going out into the streets to distribute breakfasts to the elderly and sick, forcing beneficiaries to travel to the temple to receive assistance.
Juan Carlos Dobal Rodríguez posted the complaint on his Facebook profile, where he explained that the project "A breakfast with Jesus" is still ongoing, but under conditions imposed by the State that contradict its original purpose.
"The elderly from the Home had to leave their residence this time to participate in this breakfast with Jesus. Many sick individuals had to travel several blocks to reach us, as we were prevented from going out into the streets as we had done all this past time," wrote the pastor.
The initiative involved walking the streets of Minas to deliver breakfasts and a Christian message to vulnerable individuals: the elderly, the sick, and neighbors in need.
Now, due to an order from the authorities, it must take place inside the church on Tuesdays at 8:30 in the morning.
"Not because they are our methods, but because we, as a church, are prevented from fulfilling our calling and working outside the temple, which is where all these people are who need breakfast and, above all, the love of God," clarified Dobal Rodríguez.
The photographs accompanying the publication show volunteers in religious T-shirts serving drinks and bread to groups of senior citizens under zinc roofs. The T-shirts feature the biblical quote from Matthew 25: "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me."
The case adds to a documented pattern of religious restrictions in Cuba. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the regime's Office of Religious Affairs requires government authorization for activities outside of regular worship, including social assistance efforts in public spaces.
As of 2026, restrictions have intensified. In April, Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was arrested for praying in a public space, and that same month, the presence of undercover State Security agents during a Good Friday pilgrimage in Havana was reported. In June, a pastor was detained in Cabaiguán following a peaceful religious demonstration.
The Alliance of Christians in Cuba documented nearly a thousand violations of religious freedom during 2024, a figure that reflects the extent of control the regime exerts over faith communities.
Meanwhile, Cuban churches have taken on an increasing role in humanitarian assistance amid the economic crisis. In June, Cáritas Camagüey opened a soup kitchen for homeless individuals in the provincial capital, an effort that stands in stark contrast to the obstacles that the State imposes on those trying to provide assistance outside their premises.
Pastor Dobal Rodrigues concluded his post with a reflection aimed at those who question the role of the church in the Cuban crisis: “The church in Cuba is so intertwined with this community that it cannot be seen superficially.” He expressed his hope of resuming street work: “We pray to God that we can once again take to the streets of Minas, bringing breakfast with Jesus to this community.”
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