Churches in Cuba

Planned Dates : 21 – 31 October 2010

This tour will be led by Penny Frost who has worked with church leaders of many different denominations.

It is hoped this tour will be of particular interest to individuals from parishes who would like to share their experiences with fellow parish members either before they go or on their return. Penny will make discussion materials available on request. Teachers of religious studies are also warmly encouraged to consider this opportunity which has been planned to coincide with the October schools’ half term.

INTRODUCTION
Very little is known about the gods the indigenous population of Cuba worshipped before the arrival of the Spanish colonisers.  The Christian crosses and their God arrived in 1492 with Christopher Columbus.  Almost a century later, in 1573, Havana gave itself its first temple and now there are 86 parish churches, temples and chapels throughout the city of Havana.  Some of them are outstanding for their architectural beauty, others for their history.

We set out down the cobbled streets of the old city, the part that was inside the ancient walls.  Facing a bustling square we find the imposing mass of the Holy metropolitan Cathedral Church of Havana, the most important of all the churches in the city, a focus of attention for visitors where cardinals, archbishops and bishops have officiated.  The Cathedral is also the repository of Havana’s metropolitan history.  Few people outside of Cuba know that it’s construction was started by the Jesuits in 1748, who weren't around to see it finished in 1777 — King Carlos III of Spain expelled them from Cuba in 1767.  It was consecrated as Havana Cathedral in 1789, and some of Christopher Columbus’ remains were kept here between 1796 and 1898.

Moving along Cuba Street, we come to the Parish Church of the Holy Ghost, whose origins date back to 1638.  The almost sacred inspiration of Cuban sculptor Alfredo Lozano bestowed on it for future generations the stone statue of Bishop Geronimo Valdes and the baptismal font, cast in bronze.  Aside from its artistic values, with its blend of the gothic and the baroque, the church has a number of funeral niches spanning an important part of Cuban history.

Just a short distance down the same street, we come upon the Convent and the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, considered the “last example of the baroque yielding to neo-classicism”.  Built in the 18th century, the temple of Our Lady of Mercy is also devoted to the worship of Our Lady of Miracles and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Approaching the limits of colonial Havana, Manrique Street leads us to the shrine of the Patron Saint of Cuba, the Parochial Church of Our Lady of Charity, opened in 1814, whose history dates back to the Hermitage of Christ the Healer, also worshipped here.

It was Benedict XV who proclaimed Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre the Patron Saint of Cuba at the behest of a group of soldiers of the Liberation Army; it was consecrated in 1916.

Visible from many points of the city is the bronze statue of the Virgin Mary holding the Infant Jesus in her arms.  It marks the Parish Church of Our Lady of Carmel built by the Carmelites in 1927.

RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM

Across Havana Bay we see the very singular Parochial Church of Regla, which together with the Shrine of St Lazarus, in El Rincon, is one of the two places of worship that typify Cuban religious syncretism, where waters, rites, flowers, candles and powdered egg shell form a curious melange: the Catholic worship inherited from Spain and the religion of the African Orishas.  Declared the Patron Saint of the port and the bay of Havana in 1714, Our Lady of Regla, a black advocation of the Virgin Mary – Yemoja for the Afro-Cuban religions – reigns supreme from the altar.

Visiting the churches of Havana is a journey into the mystic world of the Catholic religion but also a journey into the culture, history and architecture of a nation that is a blend of religions and cultures.  The programme also reaches beyond Havana to show the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad and its Church of the Holy Trinity built in the late 1800s, and the Monastery of St Francis with its bell tower which symbolises the city.

Group Leader – Penny Frost
Penny is an experienced group leader, whose involvement with Interchange spans 25 years. From an Anglican background, Penny has worked with the British Council of Churches (now CCBI) Youth Unit and the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe. She is now Special Needs Co-ordinator for a Catholic primary school in Wimbledon, and a member of her Anglican Deanery Synod.

Havana
The capital of Cuba since 1607, Havana(La Habana) is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the Caribbean, and one of the most enchanting and fascinating cities in the world.  With a population of over two million, it has been through major upheavals since it was founded in 1519, with revolutions and uprisings leading to a large number of its beautiful buildings being left to decay over the years.  Now many of these buildings are being restored and the city is alive with music, dancing and fine museums. In fact, Old Havana, the historic centre of the city, preserves a wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture and has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  American novelist Ernest Hemingway, who lived there for the last 22 years of his life, said in terms of beauty, only Venice and Paris surpassed Havana’s charm.  During the Prohibition era of the 1920’s, Havana became a very popular holiday centre for Americans with nightclubs and gambling rampant up until 1959 and the revolution.

Cost : £1495 per person

• Return flights with Iberia from Heathrow via Madrid
• UK departure and security taxes
• Accommodation basic 3* local tourist class hotels on B&B basis in twin bedded rooms with private facilities
• Meals as specified
• Excursion programme including entrance costs and local guides
• Air conditioned coach transportation
• Services of full time English speaking guide whilst on tour in the cities
• Cuban tourist card (like a Visa)

Not included :

• Cuba Departure Tax of CUC 25  payable locally (approx £20)
• Insurance – it is a requirement that you have travel insurance for the trip
• Single room supplement £84
• Tips for drivers/guides and items of a personal nature.

Validity: All prices quoted are subject to re-confirmation and availability on receipt of firm booking with specific dates, itinerary and numbers.   Extensions tours available on request.

Health: There are no compulsory vaccinations for Cuba.  We recommend that you consult your doctor for up to date medical advice.

Passports: All passports must be valid for at least six months after your departure date from Cuba.

Currency and Airfares: Local costs and airfares are based on £1 = $1.66 as published in the Financial Times on 3 June 2009.

BOOKING
Contact us here or write to us:

Interchange Croydon office,
27 Stafford Road,
Croydon,
Surrey CR0 4NG

Tel: 020-8681-3612
E-mail: interchange@interchangeworldwide.com

CONSUMER PROTECTION
The air holiday in this leaflet is ATOL Protected, since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 2429 (G. Burnett trading as Interchange.) In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk

We reserve the right to change the information in our leaflet. This leaflet is issued on the sole responsibility of the Tour Operator. It is not issued on behalf of and does not commit the Airline(s) mentioned therein, or any Airline whose services are used in the course of the tour. The liability of any Airline involved in the carriage of passengers and their baggage shall be limited by the terms and conditions of carriage of the Airlines.



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