Seven Years of Recollect Presence in Cuba

Last, February 17, 2025, marks the seventh anniversary of the arrival of four Augustinian Recollect religious. The interprovincial community consisted of Fray Joel Naranja (Philippines), Fray Jairo Gordillo (Colombia), Fray Noé Servín (México), and Fray Ismael Xuruc (Guatemala).

Here is a list of the Recollect Missionaries in Cuba (2018-2025):
-Fray Joel Naranja (Feb. 17, 2018 – Aug. 8, 2021*)
-Fray Jairo Gordillo (Feb. 17, 2018 – Jul. 24, 2019)
-Fray Noé Servín (Feb. 17, 2018 – Oct. 6, 2023)
-Fray Ismael Xuruc (Feb. 17, 2018 – Dec. 6, 2023)
-Fray Julián Vallejos (Peru) (Aug. 30, 2019 – Present)
-Fray Keneth Pahamutang (Philippines) (Jul. 18, 2022 – Dec. 6, 2023)
-Fray Joseph Shonibare (England) (Sep. 2, 2022 – Present)
-Fray Marco Antonio Marte (Dominican Republic) (Dec. 4, 2023 – Dec. 6, 2024)
-Fray Jhoben Rodriguez (Philippines) (Aug. 3, 2024 – Present)
-Fray Luis Alfredo Fagua (Colombia) (Feb. 3, 2025 – Present)

*Fr. Naranja died in the Hospital of Banes.

While the friars administer the four parishes in the Diocese of Holguín “in solidum,” each parish community is served by an assigned religious priest. Here are the four parishes under the care of the OAR and their assigned religious: Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Antilla (Fr. Luis Alfredo), Parroquia Espíritu Santo, Tacajó (Fr. Jhoben), Parroquia Sagrado Corazon de Jesús, Báguanos (Fr. Julián), and Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, Banes (Fr. Joseph).