In Caño Roto, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, the parish of La Crucifixión del Señor (The Crucifixion of the Lord) tells a story of faith rooted in closeness, service, and the Vincentian spirit of practical love for the poor.

In the early years, when the neighborhood faced deep social difficulties, a group of Irish Sisters chose to be present there as a true preferential option for the poor. They opened a school, and parish life began in the simplest of ways: under a tree, where neighbors gathered for Masses, weddings, and baptisms. Later, those celebrations moved into the school gym, but the heart of the mission remained the same: the Church wanted to be there, close to the people.

That same spirit marked the work of two unforgettable figures: Sister Aurelia Muñoz de Arenillas, a Daughter of Charity, and Father Julio Palomar, who would later serve as parish priest for many years. During the devastating drug crisis of the 1970s and 1980s, they gave themselves tirelessly to young people and families wounded by that tragedy. Their presence was not distant or theoretical; it was deeply Vincentian: to see Christ in those who suffer and to respond with concrete, persevering charity.

Today, that mission continues through the parish community and through Asociación Nazaret, which has served the neighborhood for decades. Its work reaches children, adults, and migrants, offering accompaniment, educational support, help with employment, and assistance with the procedures needed to regularize their situation. At present, it supports around 80 children, 65 adults, and a group of migrants seeking a more stable future.

The parish has also become a home for many peoples and cultures. As the neighborhood has changed, new families have arrived, especially from Latin America. During a recent parish celebration, flags from the countries represented in the community were displayed—24 nationalities in all. The parish priest, Father Miguel Ángel Sastre, says with humor that sometimes the parish “looks like the United Nations.” For more than 20 years, the Romanian Catholic community has also celebrated Sunday Eucharist there, giving the parish an even more international face.

But diversity is not only cultural; it is also spiritual and charitable. Daily Mass, Sunday Eucharists, Bible groups, the rosary, weekly adoration, and catechesis for children and young people all nourish a simple and living community. At the same time, its strongest work remains service through Caritas, helping not only neighbors in difficulty but anyone who comes through the door in need.

Children attending catechism at the parish.

This mission is especially visible because the parish stands alongside two important Caritas initiatives: Jubileo 2000, a residential center that welcomes 71 families, and CEDIA, a shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness. The parish and CEDIA share more than a wall; they share the same sensitivity toward those who are vulnerable. Some people welcomed at CEDIA join the Sunday Mass community, proclaim the readings, or take part in the Good Friday Way of the Cross through the streets of the neighborhood.

Many of them are young people who came to Spain searching for a better life. They arrive with wounds, hopes, and a faith shaped in their countries of origin. In Caño Roto, they do not find a perfect community, but they do find a Church that wants to walk with them.

La Crucifixión del Señor reminds us that the Vincentian charism is not an idea from the past. It is alive wherever the Church chooses to stay close to the poor, welcome the stranger, accompany families, serve those without a home, and recognize the dignity of every person. In this parish of 24 nationalities, the Gospel becomes visible in a simple but powerful way: by being present, by listening, and by loving with deeds.

With information from the bulletin “Odres Nuevos,” published by the Province of Spain Center of the Daughters of Charity, No. 49, April 2026.