Partner Parish: Cuba

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The vision of turning an old house into a chapel and planting sustainable gardens for the community in Favorito, Cuba, has opened the hearts and minds of parishioners from St. John’s and Santa Maria Magdalena alike. While we have supplied financial and moral support, the people of Favorito have opened their homes, shared their stories, and masterfully transformed a building with few tools.

Since 2012, over 60 parishioners have traveled to Favorito. We are honored to have supported Santa Maria Magdalena with building supplies, a water purification system, sewing machines, clothes, shoes and most importantly, our love. As with any ministry, we have received much more than we have given.

We have recently helped our Cuban family realize a dream of expanding the church. When a house became available for sale adjacent to the chapel, St. John’s raised the funds for purchase and renovation. We are excited to support the vision in Favorito!

Kathy Lynch describes the Cuba Mission Trip. Listen to her wonderful witness.

In 2014, The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming awarded St. John’s Episcopal Church the George B. Storer Outstanding Mission Award for our work in Favorito, Cuba. The award recognizes our work on the Chapel of Santa Maria Magdalena, which has “transformed a small, deteriorated house in rural Cuba into a chapel for a community alive with hope and Holy Spirit.” Thank you to all who have supported the Cuba mission and made this possible!

St. John’s member Kathie Harrington shares her experience the first time she traveled to Cuba: “As a first-timer on the Cuban mission trip, I was outfitted with work clothes, gloves, and ready to roll up my sleeves and “get to work!” Much to my surprise, the “hard work” that I encountered was a lot of mixing and mingling with our brothers and sisters from Itabo and Favorito. As I reflect on my experiences with our companion church and its members, I now realize that there really is a lot of “muscle” in fellowship. St. John’s has made a huge impact on the community of Favorito with our gifts of money and people. This in turn has allowed the Santa Maria Magdalena congregation and community to roll up their sleeves and turn an old house into a Christian community center. The benefits of our resources and fellowship came shining through with the pride of their progress and their abundant hospitality of great food and conversation. Our “hard work” has clearly paid off in so many ways and I am blessed to have been a part of this incredible mission trip.”

If you are interested in being involved in our Cuba relationship, please call the staff office.

Photo album of our recent mission trips.