Roman Catholics celebrate Thursday, the feast day of St. Pedro Poveda, a well-loved Spanish priest, humanitarian, educator, and martyr.
In the country, Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles will preside over a Pontifical Mass at the St. Pedro Poveda Parish in Catalunan, Pequeno in Davao City at 9 a.m. to coincide with the first parish parochial fiesta. The parish was canonically established on December 3, 2021, making it the 40th parish in the Archdiocese of Davao.
Novena masses were held from July 19 to 27.
Born Pedro José Luis Francisco Javier Poveda Castroverde on December 3, 1874, he was the founder of the Teresian Association. His humanitarian-educational activity lasted for over 30 years until his execution by persecutors of the Christian faith on July 28, 1936.
He died a martyr of the Christian faith at the age of 61. At dawn on July 28, 1936, a group of paramilitaries came to search his house. Fr. Pedro identified himself and stood by his faith: "I am a priest of Christ.” He was shot by a firing squad for his faith and for the cause of Christian education.
Then Pope now Saint John Paul II beatified St. Pedro at the St. Peter's Basilica on October 10, 1993, together with Victoria Diez, a member of the Teresian Association.
The Teresian Association has schools around the world including Brazil, Ireland, the Philippines, India, and most South American capitals. The Saint Pedro Poveda College (more commonly known as Poveda, formerly known as the Poveda Learning Centre and Institución Teresiana) located in the Ortigas Business District is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational school run by the Teresian Association of Lay Missionaries, which was founded in Spain.
St. Pedro was canonized on May 4, 2003, by Pope John Paul II in Madrid, Spain.