Four Augustinian friars in Barcelona, two from the Philippines and two from Tanzania, are preparing for an upcoming visit from Pope Leo XIV. The friars, who manage three parishes in Barcelona and Badalona, are particularly known for their work with the city's Filipino community.
The Pope, then Robert F. Prevost, previously visited Barcelona before becoming Pontiff. Father Dennis Pineda, the local prior, recalled how happy Prevost was to drive for them during a past visit. Father Dennis also mentioned that Prevost's brother spoke in a documentary about the Pope's enjoyment of driving.
Father Michael, a Filipino friar, conducts three Sunday masses at the personal parish of the Immaculate Conception and San Lorenzo Ruiz, located within the Sant Agustí parish. Two masses are in Tagalog and one in English, consistently drawing large congregations. Pope Francis previously called Filipino migrants "smugglers of faith" for spreading the Gospel across geographical, cultural, and spiritual borders.
The Augustinian Community in Catalonia
The Augustinian order (OSA) in Catalonia consists of four members. Father Dennis Pineda, originally from the Philippines, serves as the local prior. Father Michael is also Filipino. The other two members, Faustin, the eldest, and Laurent, the youngest, are from Tanzania.
The four friars live in a flat above the Carme parish in Barcelona's Raval neighbourhood. In addition to the Filipino parish, they manage the Sant Agustí parish in Barcelona and the Sant Roc parish in Badalona. Sant Roc has been an Augustinian stronghold in Catalonia since the neighbourhood's creation in the 1970s, with the Fundació Ateneu Sant Roc maintaining a significant presence there.
Laurent, 33, is currently studying for a master's degree in liturgy at the seminary and serves as vicar at Sant Roc alongside Father Dennis.
Community Hub for Filipinos
The Sant Agustí parish has seen a significant increase in worshippers since the Augustinians took over in 2018, largely due to the Filipino community. Father Dennis explained that the bishop chose this parish because of its size, central location, and proximity to where many Filipinos live in Barcelona.
For Filipinos in Barcelona, the parish is more than just a place of worship. "They find community there," Father Dennis said. "You leave mass and you find people, activities, people selling Filipino food. It's a meeting point." He added that some Filipinos also help in other parishes, noting that many are now found in the Betlem and Carme parishes in the Raval, and even children of Filipino origin attend masses at the Sagrada Família.
Beyond the Filipino community, the Sant Agustí parish also attracts worshippers from Peru, Paraguay, and Ecuador to Father Faustin's masses. To help newcomers, the two Raval parishes offer language courses and maintain contact with the Filipino consulate.
Preparing for the Papal Visit
This extensive social work, alongside efforts by other organisations, will be presented to Pope Leo XIV during his upcoming visit. The bishopric is currently undertaking urgent renovation work at the church in preparation for the meeting.
