CUBA
Project
Technological Support for the IT Resource Centre at the “Dr Bernardo Fernández Diocesan Library”
The Diocese of Holguín covers an area of 14,089 km² across the provinces of Holguín and Las Tunas (except for the municipalities of Amancio and Colombia).
In 2022, the diocese served a population of approximately 1.64 million people, of whom around 436,900 (26.6%) identified as Catholic. This makes it the largest diocese in Cuba by geographical area and the second largest by population.
The diocese is organised into four vicariates and six pastoral zones, reflecting the social and economic diversity of the region. It comprises 32 parishes, each serving several local communities. The diocese is led by Bishop Emilio Aranguren Echeverría, assisted since March 2021 by Auxiliary Bishop Marcos Pirán Gómez.
Alongside its pastoral mission, the diocese promotes a wide range of educational and community initiatives, including evangelisation programmes, Bible study groups for lay people, social outreach activities and an educational radio programme. In 2025, the Apostolic Nuncio visited the parishes across the diocese, administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to young people and visiting a number of pastoral projects.
The Dr Bernardo Fernández Diocesan Library is housed in the former medical practice of Dr Bernardo Fernández, a physician from Holguín.
The building also hosts the San Pedro Poveda Resource Centre, managed by the Teresian Association, which has been working alongside the Diocese of Holguín since 2010 to promote human development and social transformation through education and culture.
The Centre provides opportunities for learning and knowledge-sharing through specialist lectures, workshops and training courses covering subjects such as traditional and natural medicine, artificial intelligence, educational innovation and environmental sustainability. Delivered by experts, these activities aim to promote holistic personal development and social inclusion, particularly among disadvantaged groups, recognising that meaningful participation in today’s society increasingly depends on access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
The Centre welcomes people of all ages, with a particular focus on young people aged 16 to 25, ensuring access to up-to-date digital resources through online research tools, academic publications and scientific journals.
During 2024–2025, PRO.DO.C.S. supported the acquisition of new IT equipment and digital resources for the library, helping to safeguard access to ICT for socially disadvantaged communities.