Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia - Barcelona 2025

The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia was celebrated by the Filipino Community in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, September 21, 2025 although typically in the Philippines, the celebration is held on the third Saturday of September, which was September 20, 2025.

Organizers of the feast was guided by Fr. Lino de Castro and the Hermanidad de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia Barcelona España.

The feast was started with a fluvial procession in Barcelona's Maremagnum shores, thus maintaining the traditional fluvial procession mainly in Naga City which is the center of this cultural and religious event for the Bicol Regions patroness.

The Sunday mass homily of Fr. Lino summarized the historical beginnings of the feast which originates from the 15th century in Salamanca, Spain, when Simón Vela discovered a hidden image of the Virgin Mary on Peña de Francia mountain. This devotion was brought to the Philippines in the 18th century by Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, who commissioned a statue and built a shrine in Naga City, leading to the annual celebration known as the Peñafrancia Festival, now being described as the biggest Marian event in Asia.

Further in the homily, Fr. Lino further stressed Mother Mary's virtue of "trust" which is primarily reflected through her deep and unwavering faith in God's plan and word, demonstrated not just by her "yes" at the Annunciation and but also her subsequent journey and commitment to Jesus.

The church congregation departed with a feeling of heightened hope and renewed faith, praising Mother Mary and anticipating anew the Lord's presence in their lives.

Felix Capili

https://www.filbarcechurch.es/