Video: The first Filipino-language Mass is celebrated at St. Sime Church in Zadar

HRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija)State / PublicCenteryesterday

The first mass in the Filipino language was held at the Church of Saint Shim in Zadar, catering to the local Filipino community. This event marks the first organized religious service in Zadar specifically aimed at foreign believers, particularly Filipinos who have settled in the area over recent years. The church has become a spiritual hub for the Filipino community, offering support and a sense of belonging. The mass was led by Father Michael Angelo Flores, a Franciscan monk from Rome, during his journey to Medjugorje. The Church of Saint Shim incorporates elements of an ancient basilica built in the fifth century. Filipino masses in Tagalog, the standardized version spoken by around 25 million people, began in Zagreb in late October 2025, with three weekly services across different churches. Approximately 16,000 to 17,000 Filipinos currently live and work in Croatia, with their numbers increasing due to labor market demands. Croatia and the Philippines signed a cooperation memorandum in November 2024 to enhance labor market institutions and employment opportunities.

Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the establishment of a new religious service for the Filipino community in Zadar, including background on the community's growth, labor market dynamics between Croatia and the Philippines, and historical context of the church. There is no evident bias,

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The first mass in the Filipino language was held at the Church of Saint Shim in Zadar, organized for the local Filipino community. This marks the first organized event where a foreign religious group gathered in Zadar, specifically Filipino believers who have settled in the area over recent years. The church has become a spiritual support center for the Filipino community, offering a sense of belonging. The mass was led by a Franciscan monk from Rome, Michael Angelo Flores, en route to Medjugorje. The church, which incorporates an ancient basilica built in the 5th century, has been a significant site for pilgrimages. Filipino masses in Tagalog, the standardized version spoken by around 25 million people, began in Zagreb in late October 2025, with three weekly services across different churches. The number of Filipinos living and working in Croatia is growing, with between 16,000 and 17,000 currently residing there. Unlike some other Asian worker groups, the Filipino population in Croatia continues to increase due to labor market demands. In November 2024, Croatia and the Philippines signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at improving institutional capacities in labor market and就业

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a cultural-religious event involving the Filipino community in Croatia, including their growing presence and the establishment of religious services in their native language. While it mentions labor market dynamics and international agreements, these are presented factually, e

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The article reports on the first organized mass celebrated in the Filipino community's native language in Zadar, Croatia, at the Church of Saint Simon, known for pilgrimages. This event marks a significant step in providing spiritual support and a sense of belonging to the growing Filipino diaspora in the region. The mass was conducted by a Franciscan Capuchin priest from Rome, Michael Angelo Flores, who is en route to Medjugorje. The church has become a central place for Filipinos, offering both spiritual and communal support. Additionally, the article notes that similar masses began in Zagreb in late 2025, held weekly at different churches. It also highlights the increasing number of Filipino workers in Croatia, particularly in Zadar County, which ranks fifth in the country for foreign workers.

Bias read (Center): The article presents information about religious services tailored to a specific immigrant community without overtly favoring any political ideology. While it discusses demographic trends and labor policies, these are presented as factual updates rather than politically charged commentary. The focus

Index.hrIndependentCenteryesterday

The first organized Mass in the native Filipino language was held in Zadar at the Church of Saint Shimun, a popular pilgrimage site. This event marked the first time a specific foreign religious community, Filipino Catholics, gathered in an organized manner for a Mass in their mother tongue. The service was led by Michael Angelo Flores, a Franciscan monk from Rome, who was traveling to Medjugorje. The Church of Saint Shimun incorporates an ancient basilica built in the 5th century. Similar Masses in Tagalog, the standardized version of the Filipino language spoken by around 25 million people, have been held weekly in Zagreb since mid-November 2025. There are currently between 16,000 and 17,000 Filipino workers living and working in Croatia, and the number continues to grow. Croatia and the Philippines signed a memorandum of cooperation in November 2024 aimed at improving labor market institutions and employment.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a religious event involving a growing immigrant community and mentions a bilateral agreement between Croatia and the Philippines regarding labor market cooperation. It provides factual information without overtly favoring any political perspective, presenting both the cultural

N1 HrvatskaIndependentCenteryesterday

The first organized Mass in the Filipino language was held in Zadar at the Church of Saint Shimun, a popular pilgrimage site, attended by members of the local Filipino community. This marks the first time a specific foreign religious group has been formally gathered for a service in their native tongue within Zadar. The Mass was led by a Franciscan monk from Rome, Michael Angelo Flores, who was en route to Medjugorje. The church, which incorporates an ancient basilica built in the fifth century, has become a spiritual center for the Filipino community, offering them a sense of belonging. Filipino-language Masses began in Zagreb in late October 2025 and are now held weekly in three locations across Croatia. Approximately 16,000 to 17,000 Filipinos currently live and work in Croatia, with their numbers increasing due to growing labor market demands. In November 2024, Croatia and the Philippines signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at improving labor market institutions and employment opportunities.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a cultural and religious event involving the Filipino community in Croatia, including demographic data and international agreements related to labor. It presents factual information without overtly favoring any political perspective or using biased language.