Faithful groups arrived this Monday in pilgrimage to the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, in Santiago de Cuba, during the hours leading up to the celebration on September 8, a day dedicated to the Patroness of Cuba.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba shared images of the arrival of the pilgrims and described the day as a "unique procession" through the streets of the town of El Cobre.
"This afternoon, the town of El Cobre experienced a different 'procession.' The small communities from each mission house arrived with their joy at the House of the Mother," the institution noted.
The so-called mission houses are small Catholic communities that operate in various neighborhoods and locations, especially in areas where there is no nearby church.
The pilgrimage takes place on the eve of September 8th, when the Sanctuary of El Cobre anticipates welcoming numerous devotees for the celebrations honoring the Virgin of Charity.
The temple will remain open continuously from 6:00 p.m. this Monday until midnight on Tuesday. The program for the 8th includes a mass at midnight presided over by the archbishop, another at 9:30 a.m., and a parish mass at 8:00 p.m.
At 9:00 p.m., a Marian music concert is also scheduled featuring the choirs Orfeón Santiago and Vox Lucis.
The celebrations will not be limited to El Cobre. The Archdiocese also announced a procession with the image of Our Lady of Charity for this Tuesday, September 8 in the city of Santiago de Cuba. The procession will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will follow the route from the Archdiocese headquarters to the Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, under the theme "Charity Unites Us."
The activities of these days mark the conclusion of a preparation period that began on August 30 with the traditional novena dedicated to the Virgen de la Caridad, during which Catholic communities from various parts of the country were called to prayer sessions and celebrations.
The celebration comes amid transportation difficulties and the economic and energy crisis affecting the island. The Archdiocese itself acknowledged these complications when announcing the preparations in El Cobre and affirmed that it would enhance the hospitality for those who managed to reach the Sanctuary.
The Virgin of Charity of El Cobre was proclaimed Patroness of Cuba in 1916 by Pope Benedict XV and every September 8th gathers faithful from both within and outside the island.
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