Category: People and Places

VIENNA — The Filipino Catholic community in Vienna gathered on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for a special celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, bringing together around 300 devotees aboard the MS Tegetthoff near the Reichsbrücke for a day of faith, Marian devotion, thanksgiving and Filipino community spirit. The annual Danube River celebration, organized by the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy in Vienna, once again brought to Austria a distinctive expression of the centuries-old Filipino devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, or Ina Peñafrancia. Procession, Rosary and Marian Hymns The…

Read More

VIENNA, September 19, 2026 — The Filipino Catholic community in Vienna today, Saturday, September 19, gathered for the annual Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, with around 300 devotees joining the celebration near the Reichsbrücke aboard the MS Tegetthoff. The celebration began at around 7:30 a.m. with a short procession carrying the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the gathering area to the ship. The devotees then prayed the Holy Rosary and sang Marian hymns, led by the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Choir. At 9:30 a.m., the community celebrated…

Read More

VIENNA — The Filipino Catholic community in Vienna will once again gather on the Danube River on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the traditional fluvial procession in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, one of the most cherished Marian devotions among Filipino Catholics. This year’s celebration will carry special significance as Most Rev. Cyril Buhayan Villareal, D.D., the newly installed Bishop of the Diocese of Kalibo in the Philippines, will serve as the main celebrant of the Holy Mass during the river pilgrimage. Bishop Villareal’s presence is particularly meaningful for…

Read More

There are people who pass through our lives, and there are people who leave a lasting mark on our hearts. Larry Subido was one of those people. His passing is not simply the loss of a good friend. It is also the loss of a community leader, a humanitarian, and one of the pioneering Filipino photographers in Vienna who spent years documenting the life, celebrations, struggles, and achievements of the Filipino community. Larry had been battling an unusual and rare form of cancer. His illness brought difficult days and eventually…

Read More

VIENNA — An urgent stem cell typing drive has been organized to find a life-saving donor for 22-year-old Faiza, who urgently requires healthy stem cells to survive. The registration event, titled “Typisierungsaktion”, is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien, Haus Schönbrunn, located at Schönbrunner Straße 295, 1120 Wien. Every Swab Can Save a Life Organized in cooperation with Geben für Leben – Leukämiehilfe Österreich and supported by Caritas Pflege, the campaign calls on healthy individuals between…

Read More

From a small gathering of Bicolanos united by their love of music and devotion to “Ina Peñafrancia,” the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Choir has grown into a vibrant musical ministry serving the Filipino Catholic community in Vienna. As the choir celebrates its 10th Anniversary, Choir Director and Conductor Ophelia Magistrado-Cortez looks back on a decade marked by faith, service, unity and devotion. From a Simple Idea to a Cherished Choir Ten years ago, the journey began very simply. A small group of Bicolanos in Vienna came together, sharing two things…

Read More

The global stage of choral music recently bore witness to a resounding Filipino triumph. At the prestigious 44th International Choir Competition “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov” in Varna, Bulgaria, Kammerchor Manila delivered a masterclass in vocal artistry, soaring above international competitors to capture the ultimate prize: the Grand Prix. This milestone victory does more than add another prestigious trophy to the choir’s illustrious collection. By winning the Grand Prix, Kammerchor Manila has officially earned qualification for the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (EGP) 2027—often regarded as the Champions League of the…

Read More

From Vienna to the B2L—and with dreams of playing in Asia—22-year-old Filipino-Austrian guard carries his heritage, ambition and “puso” onto the court VIENNA — For Dean-Leon Cantor, basketball is more than a game. It is a family legacy, a personal ambition and a powerful connection to his Filipino roots. At just 22, the Vienna-born guard has already travelled a remarkable basketball journey. From learning the fundamentals of the game from his father to competing at a high level in Austria, Cantor has steadily worked his way through the ranks and…

Read More