IKE AND OUR LADY OF CHARITY

Manuel · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:21 pm Post subject: IKE AND OUR LADY OF CHARITY

As promised, here is why the passage of Ike just north of the Bay of Nipe in eastern Cuba is so significant:

Firm documentation exists of the experiences of three very young sea salt gatherers who went into the bay to gather salt in the early 1600's. They ran into a storm and prayed for help. They saw and recovered from the water a statue of the Virgen Mary, floating on a board, whose clothing was completely dry. They carried her ashore and after more miraculous happenings, a shrine was built in her honor on Copper Mountain (El Cobre) in eastern Cuba. She has become known as Our Lady of Charity and has inspired love and devotion and a spirit of nationhood under her Queenship throughout Cuba during the last four centuries.

Her feast day is SEPTEMBER 8TH (the same day in which the Church celebrates the Blessed Mother Mary's Birthday). Many a lost rafter in the Florida Straits have begged for her help and protection. In fact she is represented in this fashion:

Here is the map of the bay where the statue was found:

It is close to the city of Banes on this big map of Cuba:

Here is the shrine honoring "La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre" in the mountains of eastern Cuba:

Another shrine in her honor was built by Cuban exiles in Miami on Biscayne Bay, next to Coconut Grove's Mercy Hospital. More to come....

Manuel · Last edited by Manuel on Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:30 am; edited 3 times in total

HURRICANE IKE TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092008
950 PM EDT SUN SEP 07 2008

...IKE MAKES LANDFALL IN EASTERN CUBA...

THE EYE OF HURRICANE IKE MADE LANDFALL ON THE NORTH COAST OF EASTERN
CUBA IN THE PROVINCE OF HOLGUIN...NEAR PUNTO DE SAMA AROUND 0945 PM
EDT...0145 UTC. MAXIMUM WINDS AT LANDFALL WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 125
MPH...205 KM/HR.

$$
FORECASTER PASCH/KIMBERLAIN
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
AT 200 AM EDT...0600Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 21.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.6 WEST OR JUST INLAND NEAR THE
THE NORTH COAST OF EASTERN CUBA IN THE PROVINCE OF LAS TUNAS. THIS
POSITION IS 85 MILES...135 KM...EAST OF CAMAGUEY.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...23 KM/HR...AND A WEST TO
WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON
THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF IKE WILL MOVE OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL CUBA
TODAY...AND BE NEAR OR OVER WESTERN CUBA ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. WEAKENING IS LIKELY AS IKE MOVES OVER CUBA DURING THE NEXT
DAY OR SO.
*************************************************************
*************************************************************
AT 500 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 21.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.3 WEST OR ABOUT 40 MILES... 65 KM
...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CAMAGUEY CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR..AND A WEST TO
WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON
THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF IKE WILL MOVE OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL CUBA
TODAY...AND EMERGE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY LATE
TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH...165 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS IKE MOVES OVER CENTRAL CUBA
TODAY.
**************************************************************
HURRICANE IKE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 29A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092008
800 AM EDT MON SEP 08 2008

...IKE HITTING CUBA HARD...EYE OVER CAMAGUEY...

AT 800 AM EDT...1200Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 21.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.9 WEST OR ABOUT 20 MILES...35
KM...SOUTH OF CAMAGUEY CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...AND A WEST TO
WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON
THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF IKE WILL MOVE OVER OR VERY NEAR CENTRAL
CUBA TODAY...AND EMERGE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY
LATE TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 100 MPH...155
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS IKE MOVES
OVER CENTRAL CUBA TODAY.
**************************************************************
AT 1100 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 21.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.5 WEST OR ABOUT 45 MILES...
70 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF CAMAGUEY CUBA AND ABOUT 290 MILES...465
KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...BUT A TURN
TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST SHOULD BEGIN LATER TODAY. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE SHOULD MOVE BACK OVER WATER
NEAR PUNTA MACURIJES IN THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF CAMAGUEY SOON. IKE
SHOULD THEN MOVE ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF
CENTRAL CUBA TODAY...MOVE OVER WESTERN CUBA TUESDAY...AND EMERGE
INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY TUESDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
SLIGHT WEAKENING IS POSSIBLE TODAY UNTIL IKE MOVES BACK OVER WATER.
HOWEVER...ANY DEVIATION TO THE SOUTH OF THE TRACK COULD KEEP IKE
OVER WATER LONGER RESULTING IN SOME RESTRENGTHENING DURING NEXT DAY
OR SO.
**************************************************************
AT 200 PM EDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 21.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.1 WEST OR ABOUT 80 MILES...
130 KM...WEST OF CAMAGUEY CUBA AND ABOUT 250 MILES...405 KM...
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...BUT A TURN
TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST SHOULD BEGIN LATER TODAY. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ALONG OR
JUST SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CENTRAL CUBA TODAY...MOVE OVER
WESTERN CUBA TUESDAY...AND EMERGE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF
MEXICO BY TUESDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
A RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WILL PROVIDE A BETTER ESTIMATE OF
IKE'S INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME RESTRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE
DURING NEXT DAY OR SO WHILE THE SYSTEM IS OVER WATER.
***************************************************************
AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.7 WEST OR ABOUT 45 MILES...70
KM...SOUTHEAST OF CIENFUEGOS CUBA AND ABOUT 215 MILES...340
KM...SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...BUT A TURN
TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST SHOULD BEGIN TONIGHT. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ALONG OR
JUST SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CENTRAL CUBA TONIGHT...MOVE OVER
WESTERN CUBA TUESDAY...AND EMERGE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF
MEXICO BY TUESDAY NIGHT.

DATA FROM A RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
A SLIGHT INCREASE IN INTENSITY IS POSSIBLE IF THE CENTER REMAINS
OVER WATER. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST ONCE IKE MOVES INTO THE GULF
OF MEXICO.
***************************************************************
AT 800 PM EDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED JUST
OFFSHORE OF THE SOUTH COAST OF CENTRAL CUBA NEAR LATITUDE 21.7
NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.2 WEST OR ABOUT 35 MILES...55 KM...
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CIENFUEGOS CUBA AND ABOUT 165 MILES...265
KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AROUND 12 MPH...19 KM/HR...
AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE IS EXPECTED TO
MOVE ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CENTRAL CUBA
TONIGHT...MOVE OVER WESTERN CUBA TUESDAY...AND EMERGE INTO THE
SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY TUESDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
SOME INCREASE IN INTENSITY IS POSSIBLE IF THE CENTER REMAINS OVER
WATER TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST ONCE
IKE MOVES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.
****************************************************************
AT 1100 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 21.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.8 WEST OR ABOUT 20 MILES
...40 KM...SOUTHEAST OF PLAYA GIRON ON THE SOUTH COAST OF WEST-
CENTRAL CUBA AND ABOUT 140 MILES...225 KM...SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA
CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/HR...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL CROSS WESTERN CUBA DURING THE DAY ON
TUESDAY AND MOVE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO TUESDAY
EVENING OR TUESDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
SOME INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE AS LONG AS THE CENTER REMAINS
OVER THE WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF CUBA. STRENGTHENING IS LIKELY WHEN
IKE MOVES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

[END OF FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY...IKE STILL SEVERELY AFFECTING CUBA, 26 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES AND COUNTING....]
***************************************************************
AT 200 AM EDT...0600Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED BY
CUBAN AND KEY WEST RADARS NEAR LATITUDE 21.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.5
WEST JUST SOUTH OF THE ZAPATA PENINSULA AND ABOUT 95 MILES...150
KM...SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/HR...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL CROSS WESTERN CUBA LATER TODAY AND
MOVE INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.
SOME INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE AS LONG AS THE CENTER REMAINS
OVER THE WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF CUBA. STRENGTHENING IS LIKELY WHEN
IKE MOVES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. A RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS
CURRENTLY APPROACHING IKE.
**************************************************************

[THIS LADY LIVES IN BARACOA, ON THE NORTH SHORE OF EASTERN CUBA. THE CENTER OF THE STORM PASSED TO THE NORTH OF THERE.]

bob · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: IKE AND OUR LADY OF CHARITY

Manuel

How did our Lady of Charity area hold up with the passage of Ike?

bob
_________________
Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Manuel · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:03 am Post subject: Re: IKE AND OUR LADY OF CHARITY

Bob, it's interesting how a few hours before what would have been landfall in the area of the Bay of Nipe, Ike took a slight turn to the NW and then proceeded west again, thus missing the bay. They must have experienced heavy west and then southwest winds, which would cause the bay to empty up a little bit, however, the major storm surge probably occurred around Puerto Padre to the northwest of the bay. Also, the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity is way in the interior of Oriente Province near Palma Soriano, which I think was on the weak side of the storm, so I don't think there was any major damage to the shrine. Looks like Ike will significantly affect the entire island except the part of Oriente near the shrine and the extreme SW of the island, which was hit a few days ago by Gustav. I have a feeling that by God's grace, something good will come out of all this. Also, I don't think Hurricane Season 2008 is through with Cuba. The October SW Caribbean Season is just around the corner!

--Manuel