Santa Clara, CUBA, 19.10.08 – Rancho Veloz is a small rural community in the Diocese of Santa Clara (Cuba) that has recently celebrated the ordination and First Mass of its first priest. According to a report from Fr Raul Rodriguez Dago, who has been the parish pastor of the town for over 15 years and is National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Bishop Arturo Gonzalez Amador ordained Father Osmany Santiago Lopez on 12 October  in the Cathedral of Santa Clara. On Monday, 13 October , a large number of faithful from various communities gathered to accompany Fr Osmany in the celebration of his First Mass, which he celebrated in the same Church where he received his First Communion. At the end of the celebration, those present gave him the gift of a stole from the III American Missionary Congress in Quito, encouraging him to live his priestly vocation with a missionary spirit, as well as several images of the parish of Rancho Veloz and its patron, Saint Joseph, under whose protection he placed his priesthood.
 
The ordination of a new priest is a great joy for his parish pastor, Fr Raul, has a pastoral area that includes almost 20 small towns who do not have a church.