St. Augustine's Church, Macau

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Igreja de Santo Agostinho

The St Augustine's Church, or Igreja de Santo Agostinho, is a Catholic church at Santo Agostinho Square in Macau. It was established by Spanish Augustinians in 1586, and taken over by the Portuguese in 1591. The present building dates to 1814. It has a high altar with the statue of Christ carrying the cross. According to legend, when this statue was taken to the Cathedral, it would mysteriously return to the church.

Every year, the procession of Our Lord of the Passion (Nosso Senhor dos Passos) is is held on the first Sunday of Lent. During this time, the statue is brought to the Cathedral at night. The next day it is paraded through the streets of Macau where the Stations of the Cross are set up. Attended by the clergy and laymen, it is then restored to the St Augustine's Church.

In 1712, the Augustinians wer expelled, and hence the procession was cancelled. Somehow, or by coincidence, there was a big famine. Finally the local Chinese people asked that the "man with the cross" walk the streets again. When the Church resumed the procession, the famine ended.

Today the St Augustine's Church draws a strong participation from the Filipino community in Macau.