HAVANA - Archbishop Thomas Wenski traveled to Cuba to participate in an outdoor Mass marking the end of the pilgrimage of the image of Our Lady of Charity throughout Cuba, and the culmination of three years of preparation for the Marian Jubilee Year that begins Jan. 7. The presence of Archbishop Wenski in Cuba was intended as a symbol of the unity of the Cuban people inside and outside the island.

The Marian Jubilee commemorates 400 years of the discovery of the image of the Virgin of Charity, patroness of Cuba, at the Bay of Nipe in 1612. Using the motto "To Jesus through Mary: Charity Unites Us," the Church has had three years of preparation, each of them with pastoral, charitable and missionary activities which in 2011 culminated with the pilgrimage of the image of the Virgin through the island - something that had not happened since 1951-52.

The Mass in Havana began at 4 p.m. Dec. 30, feast of the Holy Family. Archbishop Wenski described the event upon returning to Miami and said "the atmosphere at the Mass was quite serene, even joyful." He calculated between 3,000-4,000 people gathered for the Mass along Avenida del Puerto - across from the former seminary and cathedral. The image arrived escorted by motorcycle policemen, amidst the applause and cheers of the people, he said.

At the end of the celebration there were fireworks. Two days prior, the image was honored during a cultural event at the Plaza de la Catedral. Archbishop Wenski said that he was impressed by the number of high-level officials present: Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez; Caridad Diego, head of the Religious Affairs Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party; city historian Eusebio Leal; and other officials.

"The people's response at the Eucharist and during the 16 months of pilgrimage throughout the island even surprised Church officials and at the same time, is a sign that Cuba is experiencing a new springtime of faith," said Archbishop Wenski. "The hyper secular worldview represented by ideological materialism is a spent project; people have a longing for the sacred and the infinite. Perhaps they cannot articulate it but Marian popular piety embodies [this]," he added.

After the Mass in Havana, Archbishop Wenski, who speaks fluent Spanish, greeted government representatives and also spoke to the international press. He said both the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Charity as well as the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI "will help to unite the Cuban people," which is "one people wherever they are." He said he had travelled for the event because he thought that "this would be an opportune time both as a way of preparing for our participation in the pope's visit and also for bringing attention to the Jubilee Year."

On Jan. 7, the Cuban bishops will kick off the Jubilee Year at the Shrine of El Cobre with a morning Mass. Archbishop Wenski said he hopes to send a delegation of about five lay people from Miami to represent Cuban Catholics in diaspora. On the same day, at 8 p.m. he will open the Jubilee Year in Miami at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, together with Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Agust�n Roman.

At the Mass in Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana, spoke about the pilgrimage of the image and about the pope's message for World Day of Peace, celebrated on Jan. 1. He also spoke about the family and about youths and their participation in the celebrations of the Virgin, something that has given him "a renewed vision of Cuban youths."

He referred to Benedict XVI, who will visit Cuba in late March, as a pilgrim of love and asked the patron saint of Cuba for unity and reconciliation of all Cubans. "Virgen de la Caridad, unite us, for you want us to get reconciled to Jesus," implored Cardinal Ortega.

The cardinal said that the majority of the 2,991 prisoners pardoned by the government Dec. 23 for humanitarian reasons, and through the intercession of the Catholic Church and other churches, arrived home on Christmas Day. His words were interrupted by applause on several occasions.

On Sept. 8, 2011, the Cuban bishops issued a Message for the Jubilee Year in which they invited the faithful to experience the joy of faith, the testimony of Christian love and light of hope, "three virtues that the Church today must provide to Cuba and Cubans," said Bishop Emilio Aranguren of the Diocese of Holguin after the Mass. He said many people liked the fact that public recognition was given to Armando Garcia and his family, for their service along the image's pilgrimage route. Garc�a was the driver of the car that took the image from one end of the island to the other.