Visit of the Network to the United States and Cuba completed

Over the past week, the Executive Commission of the Itaka-Escolapios Network continued its visit through different presences and projects in the United States and Cuba.

After leaving New York, the next stop was Piarist School in the mountains of Kentucky, a school that provides free education to teenagers and young people in the area, who face major social challenges, creating a wonderful educational community. They also learned about the Piarist Outreach program, which supports disadvantaged families in the region—one of the areas with the highest rates of poverty in the entire United States.

Then, after traveling to Florida, in Hialeah (near Miami), they visited St. John the Apostle, where the Piarists run the parish and a school for early childhood, elementary, and middle education. Once again, it was an opportunity to share with a vibrant Piarist Christian community, dedicated to the mission and in growth. Special mention goes to the meetings there with the young people of the Calasanz Movement and the new Piarist Fraternity, who are very enthusiastic about learning more and participating in Itaka-Escolapios.

Finally, the last days were spent in Cuba, together with the Piarist community of Guanabacoa, which leads the pastoral work in the area and its social center, as well as the parish and social center of St. Jude Thaddeus in Central Havana. In this case, within a very complex reality, the Piarists are offering support and hope through various non-formal education programs and pastoral care. Itaka-Escolapios has been participating in this mission for three years, and this was a good opportunity to better understand the work carried out and the challenges ahead.

We at Itaka-Escolapios thank the Piarist Province of the United States and Puerto Rico for their hospitality and accompaniment during these days. We are convinced that these encounters will bear much fruit in advancing collaboration and our shared journey. Thank you from the heart!