A REMARKABLE minister has travelled 4,000 miles from Cuba to Kilmacolm to spread the word of God.

Reverend Heller Gonzalez was a radiographer in Havana and then trained to be a priest before he fled Fidel Castro’s regime and moved to Spain.

The 42-year-old settled in La Coruna in Galicia and worked in a hospital for a few years before setting up Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

He said: “My family went to Spain as my father didn’t like the Castro system in Cuba.

“My parents moved first then me and my brother.” Heller has now taken up the post of associate priest with pastoral responsibility for St Fillan’s Church in Kilmacolm and St Mary’s in Bridge of Weir.

He lives in the manse in Kilmacolm with his Bolivian wife Montse, 49, a web designer, and is delighted with his new position.

He said: “I think God called me to come to Scotland, like the call of God to Abraham telling him he must leave where his family lived and move to a new land.” Heller came over for an interview conducted by the vestry committee in January and returned to take up the job in May and has settled well.

He said: “I would like to bring my experiences from Spain, I’d like to see a church growing here.” Heller says he has received a warm welcome, adding: “People are so friendly, they have a good heart. They are generous good people. It’s a beautiful area.

“When I arrived I didn’t know Kilmacolm and I want to thank God for bringing me to such a nice place and to such wonderful people.

“It’s fantastic — my wife and I are very happy.” Even the wet climate doesn’t bother Heller, who said: “The weather is not a problem for me. We have the same weather in Galicia because it is in the north.” At the moment Heller is working part-time alongside Reverend David Gifford, who is rector of St Mary’s in Port Glasgow and the other two parishes.

He will complete eight weeks of intensive English lessons at Glasgow University before taking over his role fully.

Rev Gifford said: “Heller brings a lot of warmth to our community.

“He is a very personable person who enjoys meeting and interacting with people.

“We’re excited he has joined us and he has already made a lot of friends in Kilmacolm, Bridge of Weir and Port Glasgow.”