Saint Pedro Poveda

Life story

Pedro Poveda was born on 3 December 1874 at Linares in Spain and ordained a priest on 17 April 1897. In 1902 he was assigned to preach a Lenten mission to the Roma community living in the caves of Guadix. He began catechism classes, then schools for the children, and moved into the caves himself. He left Guadix in 1905 after opposition from people who felt threatened by his work.

In 1906 he was appointed a canon at Covadonga in Asturias. In 1911, at Oviedo, he opened the first of the Teresian academies, from which the Teresian Association grew. The association received the approval of Pope Pius XI in 1924. Its aim was Christian education and formation.

In 1921 he moved to Madrid. When the Spanish Civil War broke out he was arrested at his Madrid home on 27 July 1936 and shot the next morning, 28 July, at the Este cemetery, at the age of 61, for his faith and his work in Christian education.

Pope John Paul II beatified him in Rome on 10 October 1993 and canonised him in Madrid on 4 May 2003. According to figures published by the association, it now works in about thirty countries.

Works and witness

• Opened catechism classes and schools for children living in the caves of Guadix (1902–1905)
• Opened the first Teresian academy in Oviedo from 1911, the root of the Teresian Association
• Moved to Madrid in 1921
• Shot on 28 July 1936; canonised on 4 May 2003

Saints from the same country

Saint Dominic, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Francis Xavier

References

• Institución Teresiana, Saint Pedro Poveda (institucionteresiana.org/en)
• Pedro Poveda Educational Foundation, canonization bull page (pedropoveda.org)
• Poveda Learning Centre, Life of St Pedro Poveda (poveda.edu.ph)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.