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Faith Amid the Storm: SVD Confreres Share Their Experience of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and Cuba
Bernard Latus, SVD, and Sylwester Wydra, SVD
During these difficult times, our SVD missionaries in Jamaica and Cuba have shared their firsthand stories about what they experienced and how they are helping in their mission areas, showing faith, courage, and unity in the face of the storm.
From Jamaica: “We Are Grateful for Your Prayers”
Bernard Latus, SVD
We are very grateful for all your concern and prayers. God spared us from the worst in St. Thomas in the east and in Portmore, where the SVD brothers and the SSpS sisters work. We did not experience major damage, only minor leaks, broken branches, and debris. This will be cleaned up this morning.
In the afternoon, we plan to check on other churches in Yallahs and Port Morant if the roads are passable, since even in St. Thomas there is a lot of debris and landslides. We will also visit the elderly, the sick, and other vulnerable parishioners with whom we have not yet been able to make contact.
Having experienced several smaller storms and one major hurricane in the past, we knew what had to be done. We secured the rectory and the churches as best we could, and thanks to that, the three-hour Category 2 hurricane wind we endured yesterday spared our house and church.
Thanks to our team: Fr. Shadrach from PNG took care of the churchyards and mission stations; Br. Bernie from the USA managed the generator, fuel, and food supplies. I secured the windows and doors and set up solar lighting and internet to maintain contact with the outside world, as we may now face weeks without electricity, internet, and water.
The sisters are preparing care packages with clothes and food for the most flooded areas of the parish, regardless of religion. We know that the first visit, when people are in shock and helpless, is very important psychologically, even if we do not have much to give materially.
Once again, thank you for all your care and prayers. We continue to pray for those suffering most in the western parts of Jamaica and for the people of Cuba and the Bahamas, who also lie in the path of this destructive hurricane.
Cuba After the Storm: SVD Confreres Share Their Situation
Sylwester Wydra, SVD
Even before returning to Cuba from the provincial chapter in Mexico, we had already received worrying forecasts about Hurricane Melissa, which at that time was moving across the Caribbean Sea. On Monday, just before midnight, I arrived back at my parish in Morón, in the Diocese of Ciego de Ávila, located in central Cuba.
From Tuesday morning, after the early Mass, one could sense growing anxiety and even fear because of the approaching catastrophe that had already caused tremendous destruction in Jamaica.
Fortunately, the hurricane did not reach the central part of the country. On Wednesday night, Melissa began its attack on Cuba, thankfully with reduced strength, having weakened from Category 5 to Category 3. Throughout the day here in Morón, the weather remained quite pleasant, and we did not experience the drama unfolding in the eastern part of the island.
Even though the hurricane struck with less force, it still caused significant damage, mainly flooding and landslides, as well as wind-related destruction. In Santiago de Cuba, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (Virgen de la Caridad) in El Cobre was badly affected. Serious landslides also occurred there.
As for our SVD parishes, most of them are located in the eastern dioceses of Holguín and Las Tunas, with one parish in Bayamo and Manzanillo. Of our confreres, only Fr. Remi Laka, SVD, was present in the area at the time; the others had not yet returned from Mexico.
Fr. Remi, who serves in the Parish of the Holy Trinity in Sagua de Tánamo, the first SVD parish in Cuba, reported that the hurricane damaged the water tank at our house. But that was not the worst part, as the Sagua River flooded all the lower parts of the city, where people are now facing tremendous suffering and incalculable losses. Fr. Remi was able to send only a few photos taken from the rectory terrace.
Fr. Lukas Mizerak, SVD, who serves with Fr. Adam Gut, SVD, in the neighboring parish of Our Lord Jesus (NS Jesús) in Cayo Mambí, sent a short video showing the wind damage near the parish church and pastoral center. Fr. Remi also wrote that it is impossible to reach either Cayo Mambí or Moa, another parish served by the SVDs.
So far, I have not yet received any information from the parish of Mayarí, where Fr. Rado Kottra, SVD, is pastor, nor from Yara, where Fr. Francisco Lumbantoruan, SVD, and Fr. Marek Ostrycharz, SVD, are serving. Fr. Marek is already on his way back to Cuba from Mexico, as are Frs. Lukas and Rado.
Once I have more information, especially about the extent of the damage, I will write again. Adding to all of this is the catastrophic economic situation in the country, frequent power outages (today we had electricity for only one hour, and that is the daily norm), along with the spread of diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, while basic medicines and proper medical care are lacking.
Thank you all for your prayers and concern for us and for the communities entrusted to our care.
After the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, the experiences of our confreres in Jamaica and Cuba show the true spirit of their missionary calling. Even in the middle of fear, loss, and hardship, they have stayed close to the people they serve, offering help, comfort, and hope. Their work reflects the SVD mission to share God’s Word through action and presence, especially with those who suffer the most. In these difficult days, their faith and service remind us that God’s love is stronger than any storm and that light can still shine in the darkest times.
