EN 
ES 
The Visit of the General Counselor in Cuba
On June 7, 2025, the General Counselor for the Latin America Region, Father Jorge Albergati, O.M.I. from Uruguay, began his first visit to the Oblate Mission in Cuba.
The visit was a wonderful opportunity for Father Jorge to gain a firsthand perspective of the Oblate Mission in Cuba, our apostolates, and the country’s social and economic situation. From Havana airport, he traveled by car for three hours to the Oblate parish of Los Palacios.
On the weekend of June 7–8, Father Jorge visited the Oblates serving in the parishes of Los Palacios and San Diego, as well as the communities of Paso Real and Paso Quemado. He also had the chance to meet with the lay Oblate Associates.
From June 9 to 13, the Oblates of the Cuban Mission gathered at the retreat center of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in Havana for their annual retreat. The retreat master was Father Jorge Albergati, O.M.I.
Each day began with morning prayer, followed by a conference, Eucharist, individual reflection, another conference, and closed with prayer. In his reflections, Father Jorge encouraged us to use this time to deepen our prayer and contemplation, strengthen our relationship with God, and listen more clearly to His call. He urged us to seek His healing grace and spiritual renewal and let go of the everyday distractions we all face.
We thank Father Jorge for being with us and helping to nourish our faith in the Risen Christ who has called us, reigniting the fire and zeal through Saint Eugene de Mazenod, our founder.
Continued Visit and Reflection
On Saturday morning, June 14, at the Oblate parish of Saint Martin de Porres in Alamar, there was a gathering with Lay Oblate Associates from Cojímar, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Alamar. In his talk, Father Jorge spoke about Lay Oblate Associates on a global level. The gathering concluded with prayer and refreshments.
On Sunday, June 15, Father Jorge celebrated Mass at the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Cojímar. Before Mass, there was a meeting and exchange with parishioners. Afterwards, Father Jorge departed for Guatemala to visit the Oblate Delegation there.
His time in Cuba was full of meetings, sharing, and liturgies. However, there were also moments to rest. We visited Old Havana and stopped at the massive statue of Jesus near the Cathedral, where there’s a breathtaking view of the harbor and city of Havana.
The Oblate Mission in Cuba expresses deep gratitude for the time Father Jorge spent with us and with our associates. His talks and homilies were both informative and inspiring. As a missionary and General Counselor for Latin America, Father Jorge is profoundly committed to addressing the important issues of our time.
Faith in the Margins: Fr. Roger Hallée’s Witness from Cuba to Baja
On a humid morning in July, my conversation with Fr. Roger Hallée, OMI began with a video call. He graciously showed me around the Missionary Oblate Central House San José in Cuba, using his phone as he climbed to the second floor to ensure better reception.
Sunlight poured into the simple, welcoming space as he settled in for a conversation that would unfold not just as an interview, but as a deeply personal reflection on ministry, perseverance, and the quiet strength of presence.
“I didn’t do it alone,” he said with quiet conviction. “God is with us, and we continue to work.” From his years in Haiti and Colombia to his most challenging post in Cuba, his approach to ministry has focused less on restructuring systems and more on nurturing faith through genuine relationship.
Missionary Life in Restrictive Times
Cuba presents difficult terrain for ministry. The Church is largely confined to a small corner of public life, unable to provide education, healthcare, or social outreach without government permission. These constraints, however, have not dimmed the light of faith.
“The Cuban community has an almost unlimited faith, consciously placed in Jesus,” Fr. Halée explained. “They breathe their faith, even if they cannot always practice it outwardly.”
He compares his mission to the earliest apostolic communities—small, faithful, and resilient. “We are building family,” he said, pointing to the deeper purpose of the Oblates’ presence. Ministry there unfolds not through grand programs but in shared meals, quiet visits, and conversations on doorsteps. Real transformation begins with proximity.
Formation, Family, and Looking Ahead
As he prepares to begin a new chapter in Baja California, Mexico, Fr. Halée carries these lessons with him. With a master’s degree in sociology and a wealth of experience across Latin America, he looks forward to integrating into the rhythms of Mexican family life, working alongside Oblate brothers to foster spiritual growth rooted in local culture.
“I want to feed off that life to do what is asked,” he said, “not just a faith experience, but a life experience.”
One enduring insight from his time in Cuba is the necessity of preparing young missionaries—not only with logistics and doctrine but with emotional and cultural readiness.
“The situation here can floor you,” he admitted. “There’s no preparation like real experience, but there must be orientation. Otherwise, even the most passionate missionaries feel lost.”
His advice is clear. Be patient. Pour your heart into small groups. Accept slow growth. Trust that even when outcomes seem modest, God is quietly at work.
A Ministry Shared, A Future Sustained
As his time in Cuba draws to a close, Fr. Halée remains committed to the long, faithful work of accompaniment. His ministry stands as a testament to the enduring role of the Church among marginalized communities.
“There is hope,” he affirmed. “The presence of the Church must continue.”
Through intentional preparation, deep compassion, and unwavering faith in God’s movement, he walks with those most in need—not simply to serve, but to grow alongside them, believe with them, and help them build a future rooted in dignity and grace.