By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
From left, Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in Miami, poses for a photo with priests who serve at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, Father Jose Espino, rector; Father Angel Andres González and Father Eliosbel Pereira Almaguer during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event took place April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Enjoying Havana Nights are team members of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, from left, Grace Arjona Veloz, director of stewardship and development; Father Angel Gonzalez; José Luis Ramos, journalist; and Father Eliosbel Pereira Almaguer. The event was held at the national shrine April 3, 2025.
Peter Routsis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami (second from left), poses for a photo with members of Best Office Group, donors of Catholic Charities, from left, Alex Fernandez, Orlando Fernandez y Adrian Fernandez, during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event took place April 3, 2025, at the national shrine.
Enjoying Havana Nights are, from left, Maria Routsis; Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami; and Peter Routsis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami. The annual fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program took place April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Members of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation pose for a photo with Peter Routsis-Arroyo (third from left), executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, from left, Ricardo Gonzalez, Jorge Fernandez, John Couriel, Thomas Falcon and Ross Gimenez during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event took place April 3, 2025, at the national shrine.
Representatives of Enterprises Group Corporation, from left: Ernesto Cuesta, Dania Rodríguez-Cuesta, Thomas O'Neill, and Roxana O'Neill, enjoy a game of dominoes at Havana Nights, the fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program was held April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
The group from St. Michael the Archangel Parish enjoy a round of dominos at Havana Nights, April 3, 2024. From left: Deacon Ernesto Rodriguez, Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor; Isaac Noguera and Ingrid Rodriguez-Noguera.
Enjoying Havana Nights and a round of dominos are representatives from MVF Consulting Group, from left: Nicolas Nuñez, Madelina Alvarez and Veronica Enriquez. The fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program was held April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski enjoys playing dominos during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event was held April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski enjoys playing dominos during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. With him Thomas Falcon (left) member of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation, Katie Blanco Bourdeau, archdiocesan director of Development, and Father Agustin Estrada, priest secretary of the archbishop. The event was held April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Representatives of Radio Paz, from left, Maria Routsis, Jorge Nodal and Ana Benitez, pose for a photo with Father Jose Espino, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event was held April 3, 2025, at the shrine.
Radio Paz representatives Rosita Rubio, Jorge Nodal and Judith Athie pose for a photo during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event was held April 3, 2025, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Enjoying dominos and conversation at Havana Nights, April 3, 2024, from left: Jose Luis Ramos, Father Angel Gonzalez and Father Eliosbel Pereira.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski poses for a photo with members of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation during the annual Havana Nights fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event was held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity April 3, 2025.
Around 200 people, including Archbishop Thomas Wenski, spent a warm Miami evening enjoying Cuban delicacies, smoking cigars and playing dominos at the annual Havana Night, held this year at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, April 3, 2025. Funds raised will benefit Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program.
Katie Blanco Bourdeau, archdiocesan director of development (second from left), poses with representatives of the Brito family, the largest sponsor of the Havana Nights event, a fundraiser for Catholic Charities' Unaccompanied Minors Program. The event was held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami April 3, 2025. From left, Maria Jose Cabezon, Blanco Bourdeau, Carmela Breltran Brito, Grace Imson and Luli Antelo.
Photography: ROCIO GRANADOS | FC
MIAMI | The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity on Biscayne Bay was this year's gathering place for a taste of Cuban culture at Havana Nights, the annual fundraiser that benefits Catholic Charities’ Unaccompanied Minors program.
More than 200 attendees gathered on the evening of April 3, 2025, to play dominoes, enjoy music, mojitos, cigars and Cuban food while supporting a good cause.
“This is a very special event that the archbishop supports every year,” said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities.
Havana Nights raised funds to support Catholic Charities in its continuing work with today’s unaccompanied minors, a work that began with Msgr. Bryan Walsh and the Pedro Pan exodus, which gave rise to the Unaccompanied Minors program.
Routsis-Arroyo said, “It's the longest running program in the entire United States,” and has been helping minors for more than 60 years.
Havana Nights this year raised $30,750 for the program. “We greatly appreciate the support of the Development Office, which organizes this event every year, and especially the support of the Archbishop,” said Ruotsis-Arroyo.
A special Thank you to our Havana Night Sponsors:
The Brito Family, Café La Llave/Orlando Alvarez, Jason and Antonia Corteguera, Mariquitas Classic, Miami Dade College Foundation, TD Bank, Toro Engineering & Construction Corp., Vicky Bakery, Agrupación Católica Universitaria, Inc., Best Office Group, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Miami, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, EG Corporation, Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation, Inc, Mainland Roofing Company, Modesto Mora, MVF Consulting Group, Inc, The Noguera Family, Premia Global Advisors, LLC y Walton Lantaff Schroeder & Carson LLP.
