Visita Iglesia: Saint Michael the Archangel Church (BGC, Taguig)

I treat churches in the city as my spiritual oasis that brings me comfort from the chaos of city life. These churches serve as my rest stop where I can stay for free rather than going to coffee shops with their overpriced sugar-loaded drinks.

That’s why I was glad when I stumbled upon Saint Michael the Archangel Church in the middle of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

I was awed the moment I saw the altar with the image of our crucified Lord literally hanging from the ceiling.

The image is quite expressive and the raw pain is visible in his body posture and his fingers almost closing around the nails piercing His palms. I “felt” the pain that He is feeling and made me recall that I am one of those who crucified Him because of my many many sins.

Just beneath the image of the Crucified Lord is the image of Saint Michael — the patron saint of this church.

Saint Michael became the patron saint of this church because of its origin as a military chapel in Fort Bonifacio.

The chapel was established in 1957 and was later replaced by a new chapel in 1995 after Fort Bonifacio was converted into BGC. From then on the chapel was transferred from the Military Ordinariate to the Archdiocese of Manila and efforts began to establish a new parish church.

The efforts of the priests and laity bore fruit and the military chapel transformed into a new Saint Michael the Archangel Church, which was consecrated in 2017.

Filipino soldiers have special devotion to Saint Michael. In fact, I already visited another chapel in Fort Bonifacio that is dedicated to Saint Michael. 

Other angels present in the church are Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael. And then we have Mama Mary in her title as the Queen of Angels:

It seems that this church is reminding us that angels are all around us and that they are always guiding us and protecting us from harm.

I spent a good time inside Saint Michael the Archangel Church praying to our Lord and asking the intercession of His saints. The time I spent praying refreshed my soul and prepared me for the meeting that I had to attend later.

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Who is Saint Michael the Archangel?

Saint Michael’s name was mentioned in the Bible four times. In the Book of Daniel, he was mentioned as the helper of Saint Gabriel the Archangel and the protector of the Israelites. The Book of Jude recorded Saint Michael protecting the body of Moses from the evil plans of Satan and in Revelations, he led the heavenly army against the dragon and its army.

Saint Michael is the protector of the Church and Pope Leo XIII composed a prayer for his intercession after seeing a terrifying vision. He asked the whole Church to say the Saint Michael Prayer after every Mass as protection for the whole the world from the Devil.

In the Philippines, the most popular and oldest church devoted to Saint Michael is the National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels in Malacañang Compound, which was founded in 1603. Other notable churches devoted to Saint Michael are Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon and Archdiocesan Shrine of San Miguel Arcangel in Argao, Cebu.

As for me, I only visited two churches dedicated to Saint Michael, aside from the one in BGC, I also visited the Saint Michael the Archangel Chapel in Fort Bonifacio.

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Here is the Mass schedule for Saint Michael the Archangel Church:

Monday to Friday - 06:30 AM

Saturday - 06:30 AM and 06:30 PM (Anticipated Mass)

Sunday - 07:00 AM, 09:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 04:00 PM, 05:15 PM, 06:30 PM

Contact numbers:

General inquiries and wedding services: 09175159255

Precana seminar: 09171799255

Baptismal services: 09911274798

Masses for the dead and columbarium services: 09051139463

House/condo/office blessings: 09933357564

Car blessings and confessions are available after scheduled Masses

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Visita Iglesia is the Filipino tradition of visiting churches during the Holy Week. This virtual Visita Iglesia is my own tradition wherein I post about one church each day of the Holy Week.

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References:

1. "Saint Michael the Archangel Parish" from Bearers of the Cross: Defenders of the Kingdom in the Far East

2. "St. Michael the Archangel" from the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

Ano ang Kumpisal at Paano Magkumpisal?

Lahat ng Kristyano ay inaanyahan mg magsisi sa mga nagawang pagkakasala ngayong panahon ng kwaresma. Sa mga Katoliko, ag kaakibat ng pagsisisi ay ang Sakramento ng Kumpisal. Kaya nga sa panahon ng Kwaresma ay laging may kumpisalang bayan para magkaroon ang mga tao ng pagkakataon na magkumpisal ng kanilang mga kasalanan.

(Source: Catholic News World)

Ayon sa Katekismo, ang kumpisal ay ang sakramento na nag-aalis o nagpapatawad ng ating mga kasalanan pagkatapos tayong binyagan. Ang binyag ay kayang mag-alis ng mga salang orihinal at personal pero ito ay pwedeng gawin isang beses lang. Kaya naman ang Kumpisal ay para sa pagpapatawan ng mga personal na kasalanan na nagawa pagkatapos mabinyagan.

Ang kumpisal ay nagpapanumbalik ng kaisahan ng taong nagkasala sa grasya ng Diyos.

Ano ang Ginagawa sa Kumpisal

Ang kumpisal ay isinasagawa sa kumpisalan (confessional). Ang nangungumpisal ay babanggitin sa pari ang lahat ng nagawa nyang pagkakasala. Sa huli ang pari ay magbibigay ng absolution o pagpapatawad ng kasalanan at mga “acts of penance”.

Bago magkumpisal ay mabuting suriin ang iyong budhi o kalooban. Sa pagsusuri ay inaalala mo ang mga nagawa mong pagkakasala. Maarin mong gawing gabay ang Sampung Utos ng Diyos sa iyong pagsusuri ng budhi.

Narito ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng gawain sa Kumpisal:

1. Pumunta sa lugar kumpisalan o confessional, lumuhod at sabihin: “Sa ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo. Amen. Basbasan mo po ako Padre (o Father) sapagkat ako ay nagkasala. Ang aking huling kumpisal ay: (sabihin kung kailan ka huling nagkumpisal). Ito po ang aking mga kasalanan: (sabihin ang lahat ng nagawang kasalanan mula noong iyong huling kumpisal)
2. Pagkatapos sabihin ang mga kasalanan banggitin: “Padre (o Father) ito po ang lahat ng nagawa kong kasalanan”
3. Pagkatapos nito ay magsasalita ang pari. Sa puntong ito ay pwedeng magbigay ng payo ang pari. Dito rin magbibigay ng penitensyang ang pari.
4. Dasalin ang panalangin ng pagsisisi.
5. Magpasalamat sa Diyos sa kapatawarang ibigay Niya sa iyo, lumabas ng lugar kumpisalan at iyong gawin ang ipinataw na penitensya.

Hindi mo kailangan banggitin ang ekstaktong araw kung kelan ka huling nagkumpisal. Halimbawa, pwede mong sabihin na ang iyong huling kumpisal ay isang buwan na ang nakalipas o isang taon na ang nakalipas. Pwedeng magbigay ng tantya.

Ang madalas na ibigay na penitensya ay ang pagdarasal ng Ama Namin o Aba Ginoong Maria. Maari ring penitensya na ipataw ng pari ay ang pagbabasa ng Biblia. Sunding mabuti ang ipapataw na penitensya sa iyo. 

Bakit Kailangan mong Magkumpisal Ngayon?

Ang kumpisal ay ang sakramento na nagpapatawad sa ating mga kasalanan at nag-aayos ng relasyon natin sa Diyos. Ang taong hindi nagkukumpisal ay hindi dapat tumanggap ng Kumunyon o Katawan ni Kristo (ostia) dahil ang kumunyon na walang kumpisal ay mas magdadala sa atin ng matinding kaparusahan. Nas ng Diyos na linisin muna natin ang ating sarili bago natin Siya papasukin sa ating mga puso. Nais ng Diyos na iwaksi natin ang pagkabulid natin sa kasalanan dahil hindi pwedeng dalawa ang panginoon natin. Hindi pwedeng pagsabayin ang “mammon” at si Kristo. Ang kumpisal ang magpapaalis ng mammon sa ating buhay.

Ngayon ay panahon kwaresma kaya naman inaanyayahan ko kayong mangumpisal, pagsisihan amg mga kasalanan, at magbalik loob sa Diyos bago pa man dumating ang mga Mahal na Araw.

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Basahin ang tungkol sa iba pang Sakramento:

1. Ano ang Ginagawa sa First Communion?

2. Ano ang Ginagawa sa Kumpil?

3. Ano ang Ginagawa sa Binyag?

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Ano ang Ginagawa sa First Communion?

May mga tanong ka ba tungkol sa first communion? Tanungin mo ako sa pamamagitan ng pag-follow sa aking Facebook page at pag-iwan ng comment o message.

Ang "first communion" ay isa sa pinakamahalagang pangyayari sa buhay ng isang Katoliko dahil ito ang unang beses na tatanggap ang isang Katoliko ng komunyon o ng banal na ostia.

Ito a madalas ginagawa ng mga batang Katoliko. Ang mga nasa Grade 2 ay pwede nang ihanda para sa first communion. Ang matatanda, lalo na ang mga bagong sanib sa Simbahan, ay dumadaan din sa first communion pagkatapos nilang mabinyagan.

Ano ba ang Komunyon?

Ang Komunyon, o "communion" sa wikang Ingles, ay isa sa 7 sakramento ng Simbahang Katolika. Sa sakramento na ito ay tumatanggap o kinakain natin ang banal na ostia. Tinatawag din itong Banal na Eukaristiya (Holy Eucharist) at itinuturing na “source and summit of ecclesial life”.

Ang banal na ostia ay mismong Katawan ni Kristo. Ayon sa katuruan ng Simbahan, ang ostia ay nagiging tunay na Katawan ni Kristo pagkatapos ng konsekrasyon sa Banal na Misa. Ito ay isa sa mga misteryo ng Simbahan na dapat pinanaligan ng mga Katoliko.

Dahil sa kabanalan ng Katawan ni Kristo ay hindi basta basta tinatanggap ang komunyon. Ang mga bata ay dumaan muna sa katekismo bago makapag-first communion.

Sino ang Pwedeng Mag-first Communion?

Ang mga pwedeng mag-first communion ay mga Katolikong bata na Grade 2 o higit pa na nakapag-katesismo na.

Ano ang Requirement sa First Communion?

Ang mga requirement sa first communion ay ang mga sumusunod:

1. Binyag - dapat ang mag-first communion ay nabinyagan na. Ang baptismal certificate, na makukuha sa opisina ng parokya kung saan ka nabinyagan, ang patunay ng iyong binyag.
2. Kumpisal - ang mag-first communion ay dapat magkumpisal muna upang mapatawad muna ang kasalanan bago timanggap ng Katawan ni Kristo. Alamin sa opisina ng parokya ang schedule ng kumpisal.
3. Cathechism - ang communion ay Katawan ni Kristo at hindi basta-basta tinatanggap dahil ang maling pagtanggap ng communion ay maaring maglagay sa isang Katoliko sa matinding pagkakasala. Ang cathechism o katesismo ay paraan ng Simbahan upang turuan ang mga Katoliko tungkol sa kabanalan ng communion at iba pamg katuruan. Ang schedule ng katesismo ay makukuha sa opisina ng parokya.

Ano ang Dapat Suotin sa First Communion?

Ang mga batang mag-first communion ay pinagsusuot ng puti. Ang lalaki ay pinagsusuot ng puting polo samantalang ang mga babae ay pinagsusuot ng bestidang puti.

Ano ang Ginagawa sa First Communion?

Ang first communion ay isang malaking pagdiriwang sa Simbahan lalo kung ang mga bata ay nag-aaral sa isang Catholic School, na minsan ay may ginagawa pang rehearsals para pulido ang first communion activity.

Ang first communion ay ginagawa sa loob ng Banal na Misa. Ang highlight ng event ay yung pagpila ng mga bata sa pagtanggap nila ng unang komunyon. Ang magulang ay kasama ng mga bata sa pagtanggap ng first communion.

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Basahin ang aking blog post tungkol sa kumpil.

Para sa mas malalim na impormasyon tungkol sa komunyon, inirerekomenda ko na inyong bisitahin ang Catholic Answers.

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Ano ang Ginagawa sa Kumpil?

May mga tanong ka ba tungkol sa kumpil? Tanungin mo ako sa pamamagitan ng pag-follow sa aking Facebook page at pag-iwan ng comment o message.

Ang Kumpil (Source: Wikipedia).

Para Saan ang Kumpil?

Ang kumpil ay ang Sakramento ng Simbahang Katolika na kumukumpleto sa spiritwal na biyaya o grasya na natanggap ng isang Katoliko noong binyag.

Ang sakramentong ito ay pinahihintulutang ibigay sa lahat ng Katoliko na may edad 12 na taong gulang pataas. Katulad ng binyag, sa kumpil ay dapat may ninong o ninang ang kukumpilan.

Ang kumpil ay importanteng hakbang bago ikasal sa Simbahan. Kaya naman dapat magpa-kumpil muna bago ka ikasal.

Ano nga ba ang ginagawa sa kumpil?

Simple lang naman ang seremonyas na ginagawa sa kumpil. Heto ang mga mahalagang ginagawa sa kumpil:

1. Pagpapabanibago ng mga pangako mg binyag.

Dito ay inihahayag ng kukumpilan ang kanyang pananampalataya kay Kristo at sa Kanyang Simbahan, at pagwawaksi kay Satanas. Kung sa binyag, ang mga magulang, ninong at ninang ang nagsasabi nito, sa kumpil yung mismong kukumpilan ang ang maghahayag nito

2. Pagpapatong Kamay

Ang obispong nagkukumpil ay ipapatong nya ang kanyang kamay sa mga kukumpilan habang pinagdarasal sila. Sinisimbolo nito ang pagbabasbas ng Simbahan sa mga kinukumpilan.

3. Pagpapahid ng Langis

Ang bawat kukumpilan ay papahiran ng banal na langis sa noo at "sasampalin". Ang langis ang simbolo ng kumpil.

Ilan ang Ninong o Ninang sa Kumpil?

Pwedeng isang ninong o ninang lang ang mag-"sponsor" sa iyo sa kumpil. Noong kinumpilan sa Quiapo Church, ang kasama ko lang ay isang ninang. Ang ninong o ninang sa kumpil ay dapat isang Katoliko at nasa wastong gulang. Ibig sabihin hindi ka maging ninong o ninang ang isang tao na mas bata pa sa kukumpilan.

Pakimkim sa Kumpil

Hindi requirement ang pakimkim sa kumpil. Ang kukumpilan ay magbibigay lang sa Simbahan ng donasyon base sa kanyang kagustuhan. Ang mga ninong at ninang naman ay hindi obligado magbigay ng pakimkim sa kinukumpilan.

Ang mga ginagawa sa kumpil ay simple lang pero puno ng simbolismo. Ang kumpil ay nagbibigay sa bawat Katoliko ng tatak na sila ay handa nang makipaglaban para kay Kristo. Ibig sabihin nito, ang kumpil ay hindi isang simpleng bagay sa espiritwal na aspeto.

Nakakalungkot lang na ang kumpil ay ang madalas malimutan kumpara sa iba pang mga sakramento. Yung mga magulang ko, halimbawa, ay nakalimutan akong pakumpilan. Kaya ako ay nagpakumpil lang sa Quiapo Church bago ikasal.

Kung ikaw kapareho ko ng sitwasyon, basahin mo ang aking post tungkol aking kumpil sa Quiapo Church bago ikasal. Ang kumpil ay isa sa mga requirements kung ikaw ay magpapakasal sa simbahan.

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5 Minor Reasons Why I Remain Catholic

There are, of course, major reasons why I’m still hooked with the Catholic Church. One is that the Catholic Church is the only church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Church has an unbroken succession of leaders from Peter (who was personally commissioned by Jesus Christ prior to His ascension) to Pope Francis. Another major reason are the sacraments which gave me opportunities to be included part of the church, to receive forgiveness, etc. There are more major reasons which are articulated by better Catholic bloggers like Ate Stef and Doc Dicky. I suggest that you head to their blogs for more profound reasons.

Here I list the shallow reasons why I remain Catholic.

1. Ancient Churches

The old church of Malate.

Frequent visitors off this blog know that I like visiting Catholic churches. I always make it a point to enter the church of the town I’m visiting.  In the Philippines, only the Catholic Church can boast of old places of worship some which were built in the 16th Century. These ancient churches serve as the keepers of our culture and faith.

2. Saints

Paradise by Giusto de' Menabuoi

Protestant Christians always accuse of idolatry because of the saints. The truth is that they’re missing the truth. We are not worshiping the saints but we’re just asking for their intercession. The saints (like the Apostles and Mary) proved their fidelity to Christ and so got a slot in heaven. They are much closer to God than us who are here on earth. It feel so good to know that there are hundreds of holy people praying unceasingly in my behalf.

3. The Glue that binds that Philippines

Carta hydrographica y chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas by Pedro Murillo (Source: US Library of Congress)

No one can deny that the Catholic Church played a major role in creating the Philippine nation. The Spaniards came to this archipelago composed of thousands of tribes with various belief. The conquistadors subdued the pre-Filipino tribes but it is the Catholic missionaries who planted the root of nationhood. The Catholic faith united the Filipinos living in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao despite the differences in languages and culture.

4. Church leaders may be criticized

St. Catherine and Pope George XI

We recognize our bishops and priests to be special because they are God’s representative on earth but this doesn’t mean that they’re untouchable. Our priests, bishops, and even the Pope can be criticized or admonished (respectfully and charitably of course) especially if they’re straying away from the Faith. In other denominations, criticizing the chief minister or head pastor is considered blasphemy. This is not so with our Church because we know that our church leaders are humans and they’re sinners too.

5. My suffering has meaning

Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow Him. The Church took this command seriously that’s why Catholics (and other Christians) in ISIS occupied lands chose to suffer than abandon the Faith. Their suffering is united with the Lord’s suffering on the cross. Even though I’m not persecuted, I can also offer my daily sufferings to Jesus. The inconvenience I experience in LRT, the stress I get every end of the work day, and all the petty pains will be accepted by the Lord. Hopefully in the future, the Lord will find me worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name.

These are shallow reasons but I believe that these are heavy enough to persuade some non-believers. In fact, I read that one person was converted by a more shallow reason: Catholic Memes. Well, the Holy Spirit really moves in in mysterious ways.

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Resurrection

Rejoice brethren for the Lord had risen,
Death and Devil were defeated,
The promised salvation finally given.

Play the harp and ring the bell,
Throw away that mourning sack,
Holy souls were finally saved from hell.

The lamb is here,
The king is here,
Our God is finally here.

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The Resurrection by Sebastiano Ricci.

The image was obtained from Wikimedia.
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Heart of a Saint

Note: I'm still in Thailand but I will post something that is currently occurring in the Philippines. No! I don't have the power to bilocate to witness that event. The photos that I posted here was donated by a friend.

One of the things that amazes me are the incorruptibility of the bodies of some saints. I had read about the incorruptible tounge of St. Anthony of Padua, the incorruptible body of St. Bernadette Soubiros and other saints that was given the grace to have their body to be supernaturally preserved.

Seeing an incorruptible body (or part of a body) is a rare opportunity that's why I felt sad that I wasn't in the Philippines when the relic of St. Camillus de Lellis visited the country.

So, I just contented myself on seeing the photos shared to me by a friend.

St. Camillus is established the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers to the Sick. This saint cared for the sick, especially those who are poor. He suffered abscesses to his feet during his priesthood but he never stopped visitng the sick, even if he had to crawl from his bed.

His great love for the sick is possibly the reason why his heart is incorruptible.

Heart of St. Camillus.

The journey of the heart of St. Camillus around the world is part of the celebration for the 400th death anniversary of the St. The heart reached the Philippines last February 18 and was first displayed in Our Lady of La Paz Church in Makati.

Altar of the Our Lady of La Paz Church.

The queue of the people who want to get near the relic is quite long.

The line even extended outside the church!

Too bad that I'm not in the Philippines. It doesn't matter if I have to wait in line for a long time just to see the incorruptible heart of St. Camillus.

If you're in the Philippines and interested to see St. Camillus, then I suggest to visit the Camillians' Facebook page to see the schedule of the relic's journey.

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Information about St. Camillus was obtained from the Catholic Encyclopedia. Second image on this post came from the Facebook page of the Camillans.

Thai Catholics' Procession for the Mother of God

January 1 is not just the first day of 2013 but it is also a holy day for the Catholic Church. This day is the day when we celebrate the Solemnity of Mother of God.

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I am so blessed that I was able to go to a Mass today because a church here had a Holy Mass dedicated for the Mother of God. That church is the Church of Our Lady Mother of God, located in the town of Rangsit, which is just north of Bangkok.

Honoring the Mother of the Word Incarnate is the perfect way of starting the year that's why I made sure that I will not miss today's Mass. I woke up early even though I'm still sleepy due to last night's New Year celebration.

I think that the Mass was great even if I didn't understand most of it because the langage used is Thai.

I am about to leave the church after the Mass but I noticed that people were gathering outside, waiting for something. I was surprised (and delighted) that the Parish will do a procession!

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Little girls in Thai traditional dress holding the banner of Mary.

I was delighted because I never expected to join a Catholic procession in Thailand.

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I was so happy that I was willing to walk for miles even under the sun. Sadly, the procession was just around the church. It was a very short walk. I thought that we will be walking along the highway to make the Virgin Mary known to other people.

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Tons of roses were offered to Mary this day. The Thai Catholics really love Mama Mary like the Filipino Catholics do.

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Red roses for Mama Mary.

I have no rose so I just prayed one “Hail Mary” as my offering to her.

I then left the church, thankful that God allowed me to attend the Holy Massand the procession for the Solemnity of Mother of God.
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