A video shared on Facebook by the page Crónicas de mi Isla II, depicting the current state of the Chapel of the Servants of Mary in the Garrido district of Camagüey, has sparked a wave of nostalgia and outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad.
Comments on the post blend childhood memories with anger over what many describe as a theft by the regime. The chapel, built between 1926 and 1947, showcased a neogothic architectural influence and a structural design that amazed engineers and architects of the era. It featured a Catalan slab and a modernist vault—the only one of its kind in the interior of the country—with visible gothic ribs inside but a flat rooftop appearance outside.
The façade boasted a mural of the Virgin of Health in tiles, and its interior was adorned with floral sgraffito and wavy iron grilles. The chapel was originally owned by the congregation of the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, an order that provided free care for the ill both at home and in hospitals, especially during nighttime.
The Role of the Servants of Mary in Cuba
The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, arrived in Cuba on March 8, 1875, combining their healthcare mission with significant educational work. Their first school operated in Santiago de Cuba from 1876 to 1879, until a cholera epidemic forced the sisters to concentrate on healthcare services.
In 1890, they took over the direction of the Colegio Llaca in Cárdenas, providing education to girls for a decade despite economic hardships, conflicts with church authorities, and eviction threats. In 1893, they founded a house in El Carmelo, Havana, initially intended as a rest home but later converted into a school for children without access to education. They eventually expanded to Camagüey, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, and Holguín.
From Sacred Ground to Sports Arena
In Camagüey, the nuns resided in the Garrido district building. In 1961, the regime seized the property and expelled the congregation, shutting down the six houses they operated across the island. "The church was seized and expropriated by the government. Its owners, the Servants of Mary, were driven out of the country," one commenter noted.
Another was more direct: "With all due respect, the convent was not abandoned, nor did it simply cease to function. It was taken. The chapel was stolen by the system when it decided to expel its owners, who are dedicated to caring for the sick at night."
Following the expropriation, the building was transformed into a wrestling and judo gym, a function it served for decades, leaving a mark on the memories of several generations of Cubans. Numerous comments on the post recall the ropes that reached the ceiling, the mats on the floor, and the trainers from those years. "The Chapel, my wrestling training place with so many beautiful memories and excellent companions and trainers," wrote one person. According to another account, the building was still in good condition in 1975 while serving this sporting purpose.
The Enduring Legacy of the Chapel's Past
Despite the building's later use, some remember its earlier beauty. "It was a beautiful church. I went to mass with my father every Sunday, around 1959. The stained glass windows were marvelous," one user reflected, encapsulating what the temple meant to those who experienced it in its prime.
Testimonies also recount a local legend: the communist government allegedly ordered the destruction of the Virgin of Health mural on the façade, but those who attempted it met with accidents that prevented the task from being completed. According to comments, the mural still stands today.
The deterioration of the chapel is not an isolated incident. The neglect of architectural heritage in Camagüey also affects other significant sites in the city, with the chapel in the Garrido district joining a list of ruins that mirror decades of institutional neglect.
The congregation of the Servants of Mary returned to Cuba in the 1990s, but the chapel in the Garrido district remains under the regime's control, untouched and unused. "It's abandoned and in ruins, like much of the country," summarized a commenter with bitter accuracy.
Understanding the Heritage and Impact of the Servants of Mary in Cuba
What role did the Servants of Mary play in Cuba?
The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, arrived in Cuba in 1875. They combined healthcare services with educational efforts, operating schools and providing care to the sick, especially at night.
How was the Chapel of the Servants of Mary used after expropriation?
After being seized by the regime in 1961, the chapel was transformed into a wrestling and judo gym, serving this purpose for many years and becoming a significant part of local cultural memory.