Visita Iglesia 2017

(Source: Catholic Lane)

Semana Santa or the Holy Week is just around the corner. Thus, it is time once again for my yearly tradition: the virtual Vista Iglesia.

Visita Iglesia is a Holy Week tradition wherein Filipino Catholics visit seven churches during Maundy Thursday. Prayers, paticularly the Stations of the Cross, is prayed for every church that was visited.

The Visita Iglesia was started by San Felipe Neri in mid-16th Century. They would visit the four major basilicas in Rome plus three more significant minor basilicas. This practice became popular that it spread to other countries. This tradition is more likely handed down to Filipinos by the Spaniards.

Now, the traditional Visita Iglesia had some modern twist. There is the Bisikleta Iglesia for bikers who prefer their bicycles than walking on foot. There is the online Visita Iglesia hosted by the CBCP for OFWs and other people who are not able to do the tradition because of illness.

My virtual Visita Iglesia will feature seven churches. One church for each day of the Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday.

I will feature the follwing churches for this year:

Palm Sunday: Saint Michael the Archangel Chapel in Taguig City

Holy Monday: Saint Polycarp Church in Cabuyao City, Laguna

Holy Tuesday: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the Queen of Caracol Church in Rosario, Cavite

Maundy Thursday: Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in SM Megamall

Good Friday: National Shrine of Our Mother of Perepetual Help in Pasay City

Black Saturday: Saint Peter’s Church in Quezon City

So starting tomorrow, let us journey on toward the Sacrifice on the Cross and the our Lord’s victory against sin and death. May you find the Lenten Season as the season of your conversion. God bless you.