Compañeros en Cuba: St. James Dinner Raises Awareness and Support for Cuban Hunger Relief

A Cuban-themed dinner on Saturday, August 2 at St. James Hendersonville highlighted the tremendous need for food supplies in Cuba, where hunger is widespread due to shortages. Spearheaded by the St. James group affectionately known as the Cubits, the Compañeros en Cuba dinner featured traditional dishes such as a simple cucumber salad, black beans and rice, ropa vieja made with pork (as well as a vegetarian version), pork sandwiches on pan Cubano, and guava crumble bars with coconut ice cream. Around 100 people were in attendance. All proceeds from the dinner will go to alleviating hunger in Cuba,” say Tari and Jack Watson, members of the Cubits.

​Some of the ways St. James is assisting their fellow Episcopalians in Cuba include helping to fund the Welcome Table, a ministry of Iglesia Episcopal San Lucas in Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in Cuba. The Welcome Table provides a simple meal three days a week for twenty of the most vulnerable people in the community. The program also provides a “very simple breakfast” for those attending the Sunday service at San Lucas. Plans to expand the program to support students at the university across the street from the church would include offering a monthly box of non-perishable food items; the church’s kitchen would be open for the students to prepare their meals.

​St. James also supports Iglesia Episcopal Todos los Santos (in the small city of Guantanamo) in their efforts as the host of the El Eden ministry there. This successful project is centered around a local parishioner’s farm that has been made available to grow fruits and vegetables for the most vulnerable in the community. Hopes for the ministry include establishing a food preservation program in order to provide food on a year-round basis. Needs for Todos losSantos include kitchen items like a stainless steel table and sink, a blender, slicer, and other small appliances to support the program. 

The mission of both San Lucas and Todos los Santos is “To show God’s Love and respond to the growing economic and social crisis in Cuba.” The Cubits want to continue to spread awareness and garner support for these projects, to share with their fellow Episcopalians in showing that love.

“We intentionally named our dinner Compañeros en Cuba to emphasize the fact that ‘companionship’ is about so much more than raising money,” says Jack Watson, who adds that “Companionship, whatever else it may be, is supporting our Cuban brothers and sisters in our prayers.” At the intercession of the Eucharist each Sunday at St. James, the congregation praysfor their Companions in Cuba. Likewise, St. James Hendersonville is remembered each Sunday in the prayers of San Lucas, Santiago, and Todos los Santos, Guantanamo.

“Not only do we prayerfully support our Cuban brothers and sisters, we feel strongly that our faith is strengthened by the witness of our fellow Episcopalians who live out their faith under the most difficult of circumstances.”

To learn more, please contact Jack and Tari Watson at watsonjackandtari@gmail.com.