The historic Church of San Rafael del Cayo, located in Cayo Granma, Santiago de Cuba, remains without part of its roof a year after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Despite the significant damage suffered by the temple, its faithful continue to hold masses and other sacraments outdoors, while the Catholic community calls for help to rebuild the roof.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba reported this Tuesday on Facebook about the situation of the church and shared a call for solidarity originally published by the María Auxiliadora parish, which aims to gather resources to repair the damages caused by the cyclone.
"Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the historic Church of San Rafael del Cayo has been left with its roof completely destroyed," the post notes.
The released photographs show the extent of the damage. Although the facade of the building remains intact, with its characteristic red doors, small bell tower, and the cross that crowns the structure, part of the roof has disappeared, posing a risk to the parishioners.
Inside, one can see the wooden beams and remnants of the ceiling, with some sections detached and wide spaces where sunlight streams in directly.
"Despite this difficult situation, we continue to celebrate the sacraments and gather for the Holy Eucharist under the open sky," the parish stated.
Given the impossibility of reconstructing the roof with the available resources, the temple officials appealed to the solidarity of the faithful and all those willing to help.
“Today we need your help and generosity to restore the roof of our temple. Your support, no matter how small, will make a difference”, states the message, which concludes with a phrase aimed at the believers: “No one outshines God in generosity!”.
The church is located in Cayo Granma, a small fishing village in the bay of Santiago de Cuba that was formerly known as Cayo Smith.
The temple serves as the primary religious space for the community and is one of those dedicated to Saint Raphael the Archangel in the Caribbean.
Its importance goes beyond the usual celebrations. Every October 24th, the chapel hosts the feast of San Rafael, bringing together fishermen and devotees who come to seek protection for their journeys at sea, to express gratitude for favors received, and to pray for the health of their family members.
The religious tradition of Cayo Granma is closely linked to the lives of its fishermen. During this day, numerous boats arrive at the islet, and the believers present their best catches and offerings before the image of the saint, whom they regard as the protector of travelers and divine healer.
The celebration includes a procession around the temple, one of the religious traditions that continues in Santiago de Cuba. During the journey, participants offer prayers for the sick and for the Cuban people.
The official newsletter Church in Motion, published by the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba in December 2025, documented the celebration of the festival on October 24 of that year, just a few days before Melissa's arrival.
According to that publication, worshippers from Cayo Granma, other areas of Santiago de Cuba, and even from other provinces, attended the temple to participate in the mass and the procession. During the ceremony, special prayers were offered for the sick, and six children from the community were baptized.
Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba on October 29, 2025. The cyclone made landfall in the Santiago municipality of Guamá as a category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour, causing severe damage to homes, public facilities, and infrastructure.
Cayo Granma was one of the communities affected by Melissa, which left homes destroyed and significant material damage in this small settlement by Santiago Bay.
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