From April 30 to May 15, 2026, the popular mission, a Redemptorist tradition, took place in La Carolina, Jaén. Father Miguel Castro CSsR, a native of Fuerte del Rey and a Redemptorist missionary serving in Jerez, presented it as an evangelizing project from the outset. Here is his report on the experience in that Andalusian community.
“THE POPULAR MISSIONS CONTINUE THE WORK OF REDEMPTION”
According to the chronicles of Cesplam (Missionary Team in Spain) it was in 1965, more than 60 years ago, the last time that the Redemptorists carried out the Popular Mission in La Carolina (Jaén-Spain), a borderland of Andalusia and witness to great battles such as Las Navas de Tolosa or Bailén.
It was not a bad place for a new team of missionaries, 13 in total, made up of men and women, priests, nuns and lay people, Redemptorists and Oblates, who came from Ciorani, Granada, Jaén, Sevilla, Jerez, Murcia, Alicante, Valencia, Zaragoza and Madrid, to take on this new battle, which would last a little over two weeks, to try to win hearts for the Lord.
After a few years of missionary hiatus, we had the best weapons: the precious missionary charism we received from St. Alphonsus to announce abundant redemption, especially to the simple and abandoned; the desire to share life and mission with other brothers; the great news of the Resurrection in this beautiful Easter season filled with celebrations, festivals, and pilgrimages; and of course, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Missionary Virgin who had already preceded us in towns and churches before our arrival.
We did so in a doubly jubilee year that has been present throughout the mission. In 1726, 300 years ago, shortly after the birth of our Gerard Mayela, another little friar from La Peñuela (the name of the place where La Carolina is located today), Saint John of the Cross, was canonized. His community was based in the Carmelite convent, now the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Among the mission’s curiosities, we have found missionary crosses and icons throughout the towns that make up this new Pastoral Unit, and even a beautiful, large painting of the meeting between Saint Alphonsus and Saint Gerard in the church of Carboneros. These signs and dates spoke to us of a Redemptorist connection with this land, nourished by the prayer and spirituality of two humble saints, close to their people. Thus, victory seemed within reach, but the work ahead was expected to be complex.
We missionaries got down to work and were able to experience the joy of leaving everything behind, shortly after finishing the pastoral course, and working together on the mission, open to what the Spirit was prompting us to do, adapting to the difficulties we were encountering, but above all responding with generosity, camaraderie and creativity to what the Christian community of La Carolina was demanding of us.
These have been days for celebrating the Eucharist and the Word, praying together, confessing and listening, visiting schools, institutes, the elderly and sick, nursing homes, houses, and families. Days for gathering in 20 homes to reflect and share our thoughts on life and faith, for sharing meals with families who welcomed us to their tables as one of their own, for spending time with those who offered us a place to rest and relax each day. Days for wandering through squares and streets, all perfectly laid out in perpendicular lines, opening up endless horizons and inspiring us to look to the future with enthusiasm and hope. Days for being among the people and experiencing joy and celebration in homes, churches, and at the fair… for feeling their traditions, their popular piety, their brotherhoods… their sorrows and joys, all within the framework of faith and a shared mission.
We missionaries have each returned to our tasks and communities with hearts full of gratitude to everyone: to Bishop Sebastián, who was present at the celebration of the Easter of the Sick and encouraged us to continue with this Redemptorist tradition of the Popular Mission, which does so much good for the Church; to Father Germán, who with his enthusiasm and hard work never ceases to involve his people in evangelization so that we may all become one big family; to Fathers Jesús and Nicodemo, who silently accompanied us and continue to accompany these people; to their permanent deacon, Paco; to the Missionary Sisters of Marilam, Juana de Dios and María Arely, Honduran women who have left those lands that others of ours evangelized not long ago, to spread their joy and missionary passion to this Europe whose faith is slumbering or fading; and to all the lay people who, overcoming doubts and fears, have given their very best to bring the good news of the risen Lord to all their neighbors, who have welcomed us, loved us, and accompanied us in this unique mission.
We have returned renewed and strengthened in the vocation to which we were once called, and with even greater desire that this newly created Province of Southern Europe continue to gather what we received from so many missionary brothers who set out to travel through towns and cities proclaiming abundant redemption to the most needy. Perhaps we don’t have an army, but we do have a good squadron to continue the work of redemption.
Fr. Miguel Castro, CSsR
(Source: diocesisdejaen.es)
