Havana, Cuba, Jan 8, 2008 / 07:11 am
Venerable Jose Olallo Valdes, a religious from the Brothers of St. John of God, may become Cuba's second person to be proclaimed a blessed in November 2008, say sources from the Cuban Archdiocese of Camaguey.
Archbishop Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez recently led a pilgrimage to the church of St. John of God, where the remains of the Venerable are buried.
At the end of the pilgrimage, which included a cultural and artistic festival, Archbishop García described Br. Olallo Valdes as "an accomplished example of the identity and tradition of our city and Archdiocese". The Archbishop also encouraged the artists participating at the cultural festival in honor of the future Blessed to "use your art to highlight the personality of this humble religious."
Born from unknown parents, Jose Olallo Valdes was born on February 12 1820 and a month later was left at the Orphanage of San Jose in Havana. He was baptized just days later on March 15.