Category: People and Places

VIENNA, September 27, 2026 — The religious group Through Mary to Jesus – Our Lady of Manaoag joined the parish community of Herz Jesu, Töllergasse for a special Youth Mass held on the occasion of the parish’s Thanksgiving celebration on September 27, 2026. The celebration brought together parishioners, young people, and members of the Filipino Catholic community in an atmosphere of faith, gratitude, and fellowship. Adding a special international and Filipino dimension to the liturgy, several Filipino elements were incorporated into the Mass, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the…

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Leopoldau, Vienna – September 27, 2026. — The parish garden of Leopoldau came alive on Sunday, September 27, as a large crowd gathered for the annual Thanksgiving Feast, filling the entire garden with music, dancing, friendship and a strong sense of community. The celebration brought together parishioners, visitors, Filipino community groups, friends of the Parish of Leopoldau and guests from different parts of Vienna. Among those who joined the festivities were members and friends of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD-Austria), Babaylan Austria, Walkers, VIC Club Filipino, UNCAV, PACES,…

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On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Filipino Catholic Community in Vienna came together in prayer and thanksgiving at the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy, where music became a powerful expression of faith, unity and devotion. At the heart of the celebration was the Filipino Catholic Community Joint Choir, whose members from different Filipino Catholic choirs joined their voices to provide the musical accompaniment for the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Thanksgiving Holy Mass of Bishop Cyril “Jojo” Villareal. Hundreds of faithful gathered for the celebration, filling the church with…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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