A faith spanning oceans and generations

By Emily Chaffins -

Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC

HIALEAH | Dressed in a black leather jacket, attire that distinguishes members of the Knights on Bikes motorcycle ministry, Alexander Gomez was one of the protectors who stood by the precious image of the Our Lady of Charity as pilgrims came to pray for the intercession of the patroness of Cuba on her feast day.

For Gomez, his involvement in the Our Lady of Charity feast day celebration is a precious heirloom passed down from his Cuban grandparents.

This year’s Mass presided by Archbishop Thomas Wenski was held Sept. 7 at Milander Park in Hialeah. The statue was transported from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami to Immaculate Conception Parish and then to the nearby Milander Park.

Like many others present at the Mass, Gomez's devotional roots go back several generations.

“As long as I can remember, my family has been participating as custodians of Our Lady of Charity or guards standing watch, like I am today,” he said. “My grandfather was part of the group that would bring [the statue] from La Ermita to the Hialeah Racetrack, Marine Stadium, and other locations.”

His mother, Laura Gomez, spoke of her father’s piety, which had influenced her. A Cuban exile, her father reconnected with “his mentor,” Msgr. Agustin Roman after immigrating to New York and then Miami.

“Since I was 7 years old, I would go to the Our Lady of Charity feast day Mass. I would be the second generation,” said Laura, now the coordinator of Movimientos Apostólicos Hispanos in the Archdiocese of Miami. She added, “We have always worked and served at the Shrine. It’s our home. My faith grew there with the Daughters of Charity and Msgr. Roman.”

Laura and her husband Fernando started bringing their three children, including their priest son, Father Matthew Gomez, now dean of the Propaedeutic Program at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, to the annual feast day Mass from a young age.

“Our Lady has always been important to the Cuban people,” she said. “This was passed on to me and now we’re passing it on to our kids and granddaughter.”

Elizabeth Perez also sees honoring Our Lady of Charity as a continuation of her faith legacy. Perez is part of Caridad Joven ministry at Our Lady of Charity Shrine. Since 2017, Caridad Joven fosters community for young Hispanic immigrants, providing opportunities for social events and community service. Perez has been in Miami for two years and has attended the Our Lady of Charity celebration both years.

She recalled celebrating the feast day in Cuba: “While walking around the city or town, people are singing, praying. When I went to Santiago de Cuba, where the image is, I volunteered for four years.”

Perez has continued to serve during Our Lady of Charity’s feast day celebrations in Miami. This year, members of Caridad Joven were given the honor of processing with the statue during Mass.

But, before them, for many years, Encuentros Juveniles, a young adults’ movement established over 50 years ago, has been in charge of protecting and processing with the image of Our Lady of Charity during the annual celebration. This year, the “encuentristas” processed with their ministry’s banner during Mass.

Joining Encuentros brought Florida International University student Kathleen Vargas Rodriguez to encounter Our Lady of Charity in a deeper way. Although she comes from a Cuban background, she was not raised Catholic. She was familiar with Our Lady of Charity mostly as part of the “culture.”

“I think, over the years of being involved in Encuentros, I’ve grown in faith and grown in my relationship with the Virgin,” said Vargas Rodriguez, who holds the Asesora General position overseeing the ministry’s spiritual undertakings.

Groups like Caridad Joven and Encuentros Juveniles have helped young Catholics hold onto their faith and take active roles in the traditional feast of Our Lady of Charity. For South Florida Catholics young and old – whether they are Cuban or not – volunteering during the festivities has been a chance to live out their faith in meaningful ways.

Wolfgang and Johann Gutierrez, homeschooled brothers in 10th and 8th grade respectively, contribute their musical gifts to the celebration. For their second year in a row, they accompanied the choir as violinists. Their family members present at Mass – including their parents, grandmother, and aunt – are from Ecuador and Argentina rather than Cuba, but Our Lady of Charity is an important part of their lives.

“I think Our Lady of Charity has done miracles for us,” said Johann, whose family are parishioners at St. Hugh Parish in Coconut Grove. “Every time we go to the shrine to pray, something amazing happens for our family.”

Even first-timers at the celebration see the importance of honoring Our Lady of Charity, as does Fernando Martinez, a Miami-raised seminarian studying at St. John Vianney College Seminary.

“It’s a way for me to be in communion with my grandparents, those who lost their lives crossing the ocean, and the sacrifices my family made,” he said.