Seven days, 35 congregations, four computers, and a whole lot of coffee!

That's basically what was behind The Cuba Project. Working in five cities throughout Cuba for a week, a ministry team from the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. helped wire the diocese to other dioceses and ecumenical partners, using an electronic mail network.

In addition to the basic overview of the project below, have a look at Tod Maffin's diary entry before the trip and do browse his photo album.

the diocese of cuba

The Episcopal Diocese of Cuba is an autonomous diocese of the Anglican Communion, under the metropolitan authority of the Metropolitan Council of Cuba. There are currently 35 congregations throughout the 4 archdeaconries in the country. On November 6, 1994, the Right Reverend Jorge Perera Hurtado was consecrated Bishop of the diocese. We visited five cities: Havana, Mátanzas, Cienfuegos, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba.

our objectives

1. To improve internal communications in the diocese of Cuba, to facilitate the ongoing life and mission of the Church;
2. To improve communications between the diocese and the exterior, particularly with partner Churches of the Anglican Communion, and with the dioceses of the Province of the Caribbean in formation;
3. To reduce the costs of communications which in large part currently must be paid in hard currency;
4. To provide an ecumenical service to sister Churches in Cuba, through the network which the Anglicans seek to install.

the challenges

The Church in Cuba is now in a position to address the new, tremendous challenges for mission expansion and consolidation. An effective communication system is critical for the development of the Church's mission, especially during this time of Período Especial when transportation, and other infrastructure of the state apparatus is barely functioning, due to the combined effects of the U.S. blockade, and the collapse of the socialist bloc in Europe.

the strategy

1. To install five computers with fax modems in the Church centres in major cities. With this equipment in place, these key cities will serve as local communication centres serving the congregations in the surrounding area, and ecumenical partners;
2. To train leaders for each of the five centres in the use of email, to assist with the functioning of the communications network; Canon David Hamid and Tod Maffin of Vancouver provided the necessary training, requiring a week in the country.