NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      HAVANA (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana, president of the Cuban Bishops' Conference, said on Wednesday that Cuba is in urgent need of more priests to minister to the increasing Catholic population and help in the new evangelization the Church is undertaking.

      The Archdiocese of Havana released the cardinal's short homily given during a Mass last Saturday. At the Mass, Cardinal Ortega ordained one priest and one deacon. "I hope this Mass may touch the heart of many of you, young men here, so you can follow Christ more closely and respond to a priestly vocation if that is God's call," he said.

      The cardinal congratulated the new priest and said that the local Church "is expecting many more to come, because all examples of generosity and fidelity to God's plan bring new acts of generosity." The cardinal added, "The needs of our Church are great, so we have to pray to the Lord so He may send more workers to his fields." According to official figures, Cuba has 288 priests and 496 religious women and men to attend about 4.8 million Catholics in 253 parishes. 86 seminarians are studying for priesthood.