Barcelona: A small community of Augustinian priests in Barcelona has become a symbol of the Church’s mission to welcome and serve migrants, reflecting the message brought by Pope Leo XIV during his recent visit to the Spanish city.
The Pope visited the Church of Sant Agustí in Barcelona’s El Raval district, where he met with diocesan charities and organisations working with migrants and vulnerable people. The church, often known locally as the “Cathedral of the Poor,” has a long history of serving people on the margins of society and today plays a vital role in supporting migrant communities from around the world.
Hosting the Pope were four Augustinian priests who themselves come from migrant backgrounds. The community consists of two priests from the Philippines and two from Tanzania. Their shared experience of living far from their homelands has helped shape their ministry among migrants in Barcelona.
Speaking before the papal visit, Fr Dennis Pineda, Prior of the Augustinian community in Catalonia, described the occasion as a great joy. Originally from the Philippines, Fr Dennis has spent more than sixteen years serving in Spain. He said the priests see themselves as “migrants serving migrants,” accompanying people who face many of the same challenges they have experienced.
Sant Agustí parish serves a remarkably diverse congregation. Located in one of Barcelona’s most multicultural neighbourhoods, the church welcomes Catholics from different countries and cultural traditions. Alongside a large Filipino community, many worshippers come from Latin American nations including Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay.
According to Fr Dennis, the parish strives to create a spiritual home for people who often feel the pain of being separated from their families, traditions, and cultures.
He explained that many migrants miss the religious customs and celebrations they cherished in their home countries. To help preserve those traditions, the parish regularly provides space for communities to celebrate their patron saints, Marian devotions, hymns, prayers, and cultural expressions.
Once each month, members of different communities gather to honour the saints and religious traditions that remain close to their hearts. These celebrations help strengthen faith while also creating a sense of belonging in a foreign land.
Fr Dennis said the priests understand those feelings because they experience them themselves. Being migrants has given them a deeper understanding of what it means to leave home and adapt to a new society.
Beyond spiritual care, the parish is also involved in practical assistance for people in need. Behind the church operates a soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charity, the religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa. The facility serves hundreds of meals each day, sometimes reaching as many as 400 people. The Augustinian priests volunteer there whenever possible, helping support some of the most vulnerable residents of the city.
Reflecting on the significance of Pope Leo’s visit, Fr Dennis expressed hope that it would strengthen awareness of the Church’s responsibility toward migrants and the poor.
He noted that throughout his pastoral journeys, Pope Leo has consistently highlighted the dignity of migrants and those living on the margins of society. The Pope’s message, he said, is a reminder that despite differences in nationality, language, or culture, all people belong to one human family.
For the community of Sant Agustí, the papal visit served as both encouragement and affirmation of its mission. In a neighbourhood shaped by diversity and migration, the church continues to offer not only worship and community but also a powerful witness to solidarity, compassion, and human unity.
As migrants minister to fellow migrants, the Augustinian priests of Barcelona hope that Pope Leo’s message will inspire society to recognise that every person deserves dignity, respect, and a place to belong.