1874
Born on December 3 in Linares (Jaén), a prosperous city city high employment and an intense political life. At the same time, child schooling was insufficient. In this environment grows Poveda who, since a young age, wants to be a priest.
1894
He obtains a scholarship to study at the Seminary of Guadix, where he becomes aware the situation of the poor laborers living in the neighborhood of the Caves, in ignorance and destitution, and he feels the urge to contribute to their human and Christian growth.
He was ordained a priest in 1897 in Guadix. In 1901 he beings his educational and evangelizing work with cave-dwellers; he rented a cave to accompany and be closer to this population, who were denied of all sorts of resources and attention.
In 1902, aware of the importance of education, he builds and inaugurates the Sacred Heart Schools for children of the Caves. He implements the methods of Ave Maria Schools, founded by Fr. Manjón, and uses the most innovative teaching materials. Difficulties to understand this socio-educational activity forced him to leave Guadix and the Schools of the Caves in 1905.
1905
He moved to Covadonga (Asturias) as a Canon of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Covadonga (the Santina). These are years of study and exchanges with many people about the importance of education and the need to help so that the separation of faith and science may not deepen. Aware of the responsibility of the State in education and of the role of teachers in the classroom, he stresses the importance of teachers to acquire and transmit an education inspired by Gospel values.
He shares this concern by offering ideas and programs. Because of this he was seen as educationalist and educator of educators. In 1911 he opens a Pedagogical Academy for male teachers in Gijón and one for women studying at the Teachers College in Oviedo. This was the groundwork of other projects aimed at the promotion of women, whose impact on society had started to be noticed, and of the future Catholic Teresian Association.
He remained Covadonga until 1913.
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1913
He moves to Jaén where he continues his priestly activity as a Canon of the cathedral. He opens a new Academy, in addition to those already operating in Oviedo and Linares. He offers the leadership of the new academy to young Josefa Segovia Morón (1891-1957), who had completed her studies at the School of Education. He begins publishing the Bulletin of the Academies. He participates in many activities of the diocese and society.