An Adventure in Solidarity
National Council of Churches of Christ Study Seminar to
Cuba
This trip will provide an opportunity for persons of faith to have a firsthand experience in Cuba, with an emphasis on the Afro-Cuban heritage of that country. You will also have the chance to meet with Cuban church leaders and explore ways we can live in solidarity with the people of Cuba.
The group will travel from Miami to Havana on Wednesday, May 18. The group will return on May 27, arriving in Miami from Cienfuegos, Cuba.
While in Cuba, there will be opportunity to study something of the history of Latin America, the Cuban Revolution and Liberation Theology. The program includes:
• Full-day city program of old Havana including Greek-Roman temple and Havana cathedral
• Visit to the Havana city scale model with a recognized city historian
• Full day program to Las Terrazas in Pinar del Rio
• Full day program to the Council of Churches for a discussion on the legality of religion in Cuba and visit to the statue of Christ overlooking Havana harbor
• Visit to the Martin Luther King Center and a discussion on religious syncretism
• Full day program to Guanabacoa and Regla to experience the “Santeria religion” of Cuba and a visit to the Yurba A ssociation of Afro-folkloric society
• Santeria Ceremony and ritual
• Visit to the San Via Vida herbal medicine farm run by monks
• Full day program to Santa Clara and Cienfuegos seeing the museum at Giron, the Thomas Terry theater and Palenque de los Congos
• Full day program to Unesco's treasure— the colonial village of Trinidad
Translation is provided so knowledge of Spanish, while helpful, is not essential.
Arrangements for the trip are being made by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCCUSA) with Cuba Travel Services Inc . and the group will be led by the Rev. Fred Morris , Consultant for Latin American and Caribbean Relations of the NCC who lived in Latin America for more than 25 years..
PROPOSED SCHEDULE:
Fly from Miami to Havana, Cuba and settle into the Hotel Riviera
After breakfast, we will depart the hotel to visit the Cuban Council of Churches . We will meet with the local director and receive an overview of the different denominations working within the island as well as discussing the many programs the Council operates. The Cuban Council of Churches programs included a Youth Department, Women's department and a 15-year old Medical Commission, working to organize donations of medicine and establish health programs to meet the many needs precipitated by the economic crisis in Cuba. We will proceed to beautiful Old Havana for a guided city tour. From here we will visit “El Cristo de La Habana,” a statue built in 1958 with a beautiful view overlooking the harbor and city. We proceed to one of Havana's oldest restaurants for lunch. This afternoon, you'll visit a scale model of Havana and learn about the restoration that's under way. You will meet a few of the experts who will provide insight throughout your trip. Dinner is included this evening. Perhaps the captivating Cuban beat draws you to Old Havana to sample the nightlife.
After breakfast, we will depart the hotel for our full-day excursion to the Pinar del Rio town of Las Terrazas in the Sierra del Rosario Mountains; west of Havana, where we visit the magnificent village church founded in 1733. We will continue north to Laz Terrazas which is the most successful of the “new towns” built in the late 1960's and early 1970's and is the site of a leading biosphere research center, an exquisite small hotel “the Moka”, old coffee plantations as well as woods and rivers to explore. We will then have lunch in the charming Cafetal Restaurant in a restored coffee plantation or at the home restaurant of a local “campesino.” We will return to Havana in the afternoon. Dinner is on your own this evening.
After breakfast, we will depart the hotel for a tour through some of the religious sights in and around Old Havana. Highlights include the Cathedral de la Habana, This enormous structure built in Spanish Baroque style, once housed the ashes of Christopher Columbus' son, Diego. We move onward to the Cementario de Colon. Construction began in 1860 on what is one of the world's largest necropolises. Late afternoon, we will visit “El Templete.” This Greek-Roman temple marks the spot where the first mass and town council meeting were held in 1519. Inside the temple, three paintings show the mass, the council meeting, and the 1827 inauguration of the building. Dinner is on your own this evening.
After breakfast, we depart to the village of Guanabacoa to visit the numerous fine colonial churches where locals worship to the many Catholic and Santeria saints. Next we visit the Museo de Guanabacoa that houses a series of displays on Afro-Cuban religions. We will visit the Guanabacoa Jewish Cemetery, and the Holocaust memorial. We continue on to the quaint village of Regla. Here we will explore the religious rituals of Afro-Cuban Santeria and visit the Black Madonna who is the Patron Saint of Sailors. We will also visit the Museo Municipal where they exhibit Santeria Orishas alters and symbols, as well as divination shells and donations to the deities. Get ready for your festive Farewell Dinner at one of the city's most exciting and beautiful venues.
After breakfast, we will visit the Martin Luther King Center in Mariano with a briefing and a discussion on the topic of “Religious Syncretism” in Cuba. We will share in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations held at the Center. Then we will visit Santiago's Casa de Africa, where will be instructed on the rituals of Santeria and its relationship with Cuban daily life. Next, a visit to San Francisco de Paula and Finca Vigia. Dinner is included this evening.
After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and visit the Cathedral de la Purisima Conception - built in 1870 with its beautiful stained glass windows of the twelve apostles. We will then proceed to a local restaurant to enjoy an authentic Cuban meal. Next, we will visit the temple Bustista, a simple Baptist temple in an art Nuevo style. We will proceed to our hotel in Cienfuegos. Archbishop Chapelle of New Orleans erected the Diocese of Cienfuegos, which had previously formed part of Havana, in 1903. The Diocese includes all the provenance of Santa Clara.
After breakfast we will visit a few of the 38 local Santa Clara parishes to discuss the numerous religious and charitable institutions within the Diocese. From Santa Clara we will visit one of the two famous Saint Louis I and II cemeteries - the other being in New Orleans. While thousands of tourists visit the one in New Orleans every year only a handful have had the pleasure or opportunity to view La Reina in Cienfuegos. Materials such as Italian marble, Lalique glass and foreign cast iron are incorporated into these intriguing monuments to the departed souls which, when experienced all together, is awe-inspiring. From here, we will visit the small, yet intriguing Tomas Acea Cemetery, which is entered through a gate that is a scaled down replica of the Parthenon. The Cemetery overlooks the bay from atop a bluff on the road to Rancho Luna. Dinner is included this evening.
After breakfast, we will depart the hotel for our visit to the historic colonial town of Trinidad for a city tour including a visit to the old Cathedral and the beautiful town of Remedos. Lunch is included today at a local restaurant with music. We will visit the Cabildo de los Congos Relaes San Antonio. This is a local center of Santeria worship where the Catholic Saint Antoni pairs up with the Santeria Orisha or God Hogun. Dinner is on your own this evening.
After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
The above program is an outline of planned activities, but there is no guarantee that the program will follow this exact schedule, as that will depend on the availability of the persons and programs indicated.
REGISTRATION:
The maximum group will be 35 persons and registrations will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. An initial deposit of $1,000 is required to guarantee space. That should be paid by April 1, 2005 . A second payment of $1,000 is required by April 25, and the balance is required by May 10, 2005 . Visa and MasterCard are accepted .
Notification of withdrawal before April 24 will result in a forfeiture of 50% of the deposit, except in case of documented medical emergency. In the case of cancellation less than 15 days before departure, the deposit will be forfeited in all cases.
DOCUMENTATION:
To enter Cuba you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after date of entry, or until October 1, 2005. We will need a photocopy of your valid passport no later than February 28, 2005. Fax to: 1-630-839-0114
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCCUSA), is sponsoring this Travel/Study Seminar to Cuba (An Adventure in Solidarity) . This entity and its administrators and any travel agency and/or supplier of services pursuant to or in connection with this Seminar shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation; nor for any loss, damage or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of any agency or supplier, or occurring without the fault or negligence of such agency or supplier. The schedules in the program are subject to change without notice.
Refunds of deposits will be governed by the terms stated herein. It is understood that there is no accident or loss insurance offered by the Seminar and each participant is responsible for him/herself. Registration with the Seminar is a declaration that the conditions are understood and accepted.
To reserve your space, fill out the Registration Form and send it with your check for $800 to the National Council of Churches, 523 Spring Oaks Blvd., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Visa and MasterCard are accepted .
For more information, write, or call the Rev. Fred Morris (407-265-7376) 523 Spring Oaks Blvd., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. ( Email : fced@aol.com)
COST: The price of the trip from Miami will depend on the size of the group and occupancy, according to the following table:
SINGLE DOUBLE TRIPLE
GROUP 1-15 $2725.00 $2510.00 $ 2259.00
GROUP 16-25 $2530.00 $2316.00 $ 2235.00
GROUP 26-35 $2495.00 $2296.00 $ 2190.00
The total cost includes roundtrip airfare from Miami , including lodging, total of 19 meals: f ull breakfast daily , 5 lunches and 5 dinner s (including welcome and farewell gala events) , local transportation on private air-conditioned buses, all visas and travel documents, and program. (Prices subject to change if there are changes in airfares before tickets are purchased.) Lodging will include six nights in the 5-star Hotel Riviera de Cuba and three nights in the 4-star Hotel Jagua in Cienfuegos.
Registration Form
Yes! I want to go on the NCC Study Seminar to Cuba!
May 18--May 27, 2005
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________ Email: ____________________________
Religious denomination: _______________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: ___________________________ (Minimum deposit before April 1 is $1,000)
___ Check ___ Visa ___ MasterCard
Credit Card # ____________________________________________
Expiration date: __________________________________________
I understand that I will make my own arrangements for travel to and from Miami, Florida and that I will get my own passport valid until at least November 18, 2005. I will forward a copy of my passport to you before Aprill 26, 2005
I accept the Terms and Conditions as set forth in the brochure for the Study Seminar.
Signature: __________________________________________
Please fill out and return to:
Rev. Fred Morris
523 Spring Oaks Blvd.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Email : fced@aol.com
Phone: 407-265-7376 or 407-310-4974
Fax: 630-839-0114