Visita Iglesia 2020: Baclaran Church (Pasay)

Today, Black Saturday, is the day when we commemorate Jesus' descent to Hades and His liberation of the blessed ones from the shackles of Death. 

Today is also the seventh day of my virtual Visita Iglesia and the church that I am featuring today is the popular Baclaran Church. 

I don't usually go to Baclaran Church since it is out of my way. It is My Beloved Wife who sort of introduced me to this church when we are not yet married. Now, whenever My Beloved Wife wants to attend mass in Metro Manila she always chooses Baclaran Church. 

Baclaran Church is popular because of the people's devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Wednesday is the day dedicated to our lady and many devotees flock to Baclaran for their panata to the "Mahal na Ina". 

Baclaran Church History

The Redemptorists, officially known as the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, reached the Philippines in 1906. They landed in Opon, Cebu and started their missionary works in Compostela, Cebu and Camotes Islands. Their missions then spread to Luzon where the Archbishop of Manila gave Malate Church under their care.

The Redemptorist, however, requested that they be posted in a more remote location because they considered Malate as an urban area. The archbishop granted their request and sent them to Baclaran.

Looking at Baclaran now makes it hard to imagine that that place was once grassland near the sea. Baclaran was a just fishing village when the Redemptorists built their wooden chapel in 1932.

The wooden chapel for the missionaries where transformed when the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help was held for the first time in 1948. From the original 70 attendees in the first novena, it doubled to 150 attendees the next week, then to hundreds, and to thousands by 1949. Now, it was estimated that around 150,000 devotees go to Baclaran every Wednesday, which is aptly called as Baclaran Day.

The sudden growth of devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help necessitated the construction of a bigger church. The current structure of Baclaran Church was built from 1953 to 1958 and was designed by architects Cesar Concio and Jesse Bontoc. The church is of Modern Romanesque style.  

Actually, I always think that its facade resembles a big pipe organ.

Baclaran Church is one of the biggest church I have been to. Its ceiling is so high and of interesting design.

The website of Baclaran Church said that the ceiling was made to appear like big palms clasp as in prayer. Thus, Baclaran Church is the church that prays with the people. 

The altar Baclaran Church has interesting design. It consists of bronze wheat stalks crisscrossing together. 

At the top is the revered image of Mother of Perpetual Help.

The original image of the Mother of Perpetual Help has an interesting history. It was believed that the image was stolen by a merchant from the Greek island of Crete to Rome. At the hour of his death, the merchant asked a friend to return the image to Crete. The merchant's wife did not wish to relinquish such a beautiful image until the Virgin Mary appeared to the merchant's daughter. Mary instructed that the image be placed in St. Matthew's Church in Rome. 

The icon of Mother of Perpetual Help remained in St. Matthew's Church for three hundred years. Many people reported of miraculous healings that happened after praying to the image of the "Virgin Mary of St. Matthew's".

In 1819, the Irish Agustinians who managed St. Matthew's Church had to leave because the church and monastery was destroyed by the French during the Revolutionary Wars. The Augustinians moved to the Church of St. Mary in Posterula, where "Our Lady of Grace" is being venerated. Thus, the image of the "Virgin Mary of St. Matthew's" was placed in the chapel of the monastery hidden from public view.

The Redemptorists acquired the land where St. Matthew's Church once stood. After hearing a sermon of the Jesuit priest Francesco Blosi, the Redemptorists discovered the importance of the land that they acquired and the image of the Virgin of St. Matthew. The Redemptorists petitioned Pope Pius IX to get the image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help from the Church of St. Mary in Posterula. The pope granted their request and instructed the Redemptorists to make the Mother of Perpetual Help known to the whole world. The original image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is now housed in Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Rome.

The image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help originated from Germany and passed through Ireland and Australia before reaching the Philippines in 1906.

Aside from the altar of Baclaran Church, the candle chapel has a big image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

This is where we usually spend a long time to pray. This is also my children’s favorite place in Baclaran Church because they can light candles and watch them melt.

The candle chapel is the place where devotees can get close and personal with Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

In the past, a smart aleck placed a “love lock” on the fence of the “wishing well” of Baclaran Church. The fence was soon filled with padlocks. 

This showy affection may be cute but cringeworthy and makes the place look ugly in the long run. Good thing that these love locks were removed and I did not see any of them during my last visit to Baclaran Church.

Dear lovebirds, placing a love lock does not guarantee your love will last forever.

Baclaran Church is one of the greatest Marian shrine in our country and I am sure that many people were blessed by our Lord after asking the intercession of Our Mother Perpetual Help.

Many people, especially the protestant ones, are scandalized by our veneration to Virgin Mary. I was once like them and accused my fellow Catholics of worshipping Mary. I was wrong because we Catholics do not worship Mary but we honor her like how the Israelites honored the queen mother in Biblical times. We know that Jesus’ loves Mary and placed her at the summit of His creations. We also know, as narrated in the Bible during a wedding at Cana, that Jesus listens to Mama Mary.

So, let us continue asking the intercession of Mama Mary and for sure she will prove to us the she is Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

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Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Dear Mother of Perpetual Help from the cross Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. You are the kindest, the most loving of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children as we now ask you to help us in all our needs especially this one

(Pause to recall your petitions).

While you were on earth, dear Mother you willingly shared in the sufferings of your Son. Strengthened by your faith and confidence in the fatherly love of God you accepted the mysterious designs of His Will.

We, too, have our crosses and trials. Sometimes they almost crush us to the ground. Dearest Mother, share with us your abundant faith and confidence in God. Make us aware that God never ceases to love us; that He answers all our prayers in the way that is best for us. Strengthen our hearts to carry the cross in the footsteps of your Divine Son. Help us to realize that he who shares the cross of Christ will certainly share His resurrection.

Dearest Mother, as we worry about our own problems let us not forget the needs of others. You always love others so much; help us to do the same. While praying for our own intentions and for the intentions of all here present at this Novena we earnestly ask you, our Mother to help us comfort the sick and the dying give hope to the poor and unemployed heal the broken-hearted walk in solidarity with the oppressed teach justice to their oppressors and bring back to God all those who have offended Him.

Dearest Mother, help us to avoid sin which separates us from our heavenly Father and from one another. Full of trust in you we place ourselves under the mantle of your maternal protection and confidently hope for your compassionate intercession. Amen.

I recommend that you visit the website of Baclaran Church to pray the whole Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

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(Source: Traditional Catholic Priest)

We are now in the seventh church for our virtual Visita Iglesia so we pray the:

Thirteenth Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

If you missed the earlier stations, I suggest that you visit the churches that we featured earlier in this year’s virtual Visita Iglesia:

Palm Sunday: Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Mandaluyong)

Holy Monday: Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Pasay)

Holy Tuesday: Holy Cross Church (Noveleta, Cavite)

Holy Wednesday: National Shrine of Saint Jude (Manila)

Maundy Thursday: San Isidro Labrador Church (Pasay)

Good Friday: Christ the King Church (Tagum, Davao del Norte)

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References:

1. The Shrine that Our Mother of Perpetual Help Built, The Shrine that Prays with You and From Crete to Baclaran: The Story of the Icon from Baclaran Church website

2. The Philippines Mission from Redemptorists Ireland

3. Baclaran Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Sant'Alfonso di Liguori from Wikipedia

Visita Iglesia 2020: San Isidro Labrador Church (Pasay)

In the novel Spring Moon of Bette Bao Lord, one part that stood out for me is the scene about the Boxer Rebellion in China where nationalists attacked foreigners and their fellow Chinese who were converts to Christianity. In one scene, a nationalist mockingly called a lady as “worshipper of Carpenter God” while murdering her family.

Jesus the Carpenter God is a mockery from the mouth of pagans but not so for us Christians because Jesus is indeed a carpenter and that does not made Him a lesser god. In fact, He lifted the value of man’s hard work and showed us that there is dignity in our labors. 

Our Lord emptied Himself of divinity and became man - and not just that but he chose a lowly stature - He chose to be poor, to be a carpenter who is bound to labor all day just to get enough money to buy ample food for a day. In short, Jesus chose to be a daily wage earner - a “no-work-no-pay” kind of guy. It is indeed foolishness and illogical that the God who created the universe became someone who is in deep poverty.

This “foolishness” of our Lord is comfort to those who labor because He is one of them. The saints can see this wisdom of our Lord and of those saints is Saint Isidore the Farmer, who is also known as San Isidro Labrador.

Today is Maundy Thursday and the church that I feature today is the one dedicated to San Isidro Labrador located along Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

San Isidro Labrador Church is one of the churches that I see every time I ride the LRT.  It is noticeable since it is the only big church along Taft Avenue.

The church is also noticeable because of the big stained glass windows on the facade. The windows feature Saint Isidore holding a shovel.

The facade of this church looks beautiful at night when the stained glass is lighted.

Another beautiful feature of this church is the image of the Last Supper at the facade.

The image of the Last Supper is the reason why I feature San Isidro Labrador Church this Maundy Thursday.

San Isidro Labrador is a farmer who is highly venerated not only in his home-country Spain but in many parts of the world. In our country, many towns, particularly the rural ones, celebrate feasts dedicated to San Isidro. The most popular and colorful feast dedicated to San Isidro is the Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, Quezon.

San Isidro is a laborer just like Jesus. By the strength of his arms he plow the fields and through his sweat his master gets a good harvest. San Isidro is a peasant and just a farmer-tenant or a kasama in our language. Thus, he does not own the land that he till. I think this is the reason why many Filipino farmers devotees of San Isidro because he is a poor farmer just like them.

Despite his poverty, San Isidro gave the little that he had to poor. He even gave food to the hungry birds. Because of this, God gave him so much favor that he was able to do miracles while he was still alive. It was said that San Isidro was assisted by angels in the farms. Through prayers he brought back to life his master’s deceased daughter. The people of Spain continued to receive miracles through San Isidro after his death. Such is the power of someone who has great faith in God. 

San Isidro Labrador Church in Pasay also honors Maria Torribia, who is San Isidro’s wife. She shared the holiness of her husband so she is also called Santa Maria de la Cabeza even though she is not yet canonized by the Church.

It is interesting to note that San Isidro’s wife is called Santa Maria de la Cabeza (Saint Mary of the Head) because her head was carried during a procession when the people are asking God for rain.

It was said that Santa Maria always had a pot of stew because her husband always bring to their home hungry beggars. Santa Maria continued her piety  and charity even after the death of her husband.

San Isidro and Santa Maria are good examples of husband and wife supporting each other in the path to holiness.

The area where San Isidro Labrador Church stands was under the jurisdiction of Santa Clara de Montefalco Parish. San Isidro Labrador Parish was established in 1951 while the church was constructed from 1961 to 1966.

The bell tower on the left side of the church was only constructed in 2011 just in time for the 60th anniversary of San Isidro Labrador Parish.

Unfortunately, the church was under renovation and was closed during my visit so I had no choice but to stay outside.

The church is spacious. Stained glass served as the background of the church’s altar.

I was not able to take a good photo of the altar. Well, I do hope that I could get a better view of what’s inside this church in the future.

San Isidro is a good example for us who labor on this earth. In Genesis, the Lord pronounced a curse that man had to toil so that he can eat. It was indeed a curse because while in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not do hard work so that they could eat. However, Jesus showed that the curse is God’s way of teaching us that hard work is a path to holiness. Our Lord did not avoid hard work. In fact, He has the power to command the angels to do the work for Him and his foster-father Joseph. Yet, for many years, he toiled as a carpenter with Saint Joseph. He affirmed the dignity of labor.

This Holy Week, aside from meditating on the passion and death of our Lord, may we also meditate on Jesus as a humble carpenter. May we learn to honor all laborers, including those who are being looked down by society. May we also learn our hard works can be offered to God and become part of our treasures in Heaven.

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If you wish to contact the parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Church, please contact hime at telephone no. (02) 525-1188 and their Facebook Page.

The schedule of the Holy Mass in San Isidro Labrador Church is the following:

Monday to Friday: 06:00 AM and 06:30 PM
Saturday:  06:00 AM
Saturday anticipated mass: 06:30 PM
Sunday: 06:00 AM, 07:15 AM, 08:45 AM, 10:00 AM, 05:00 PM, 06:00 PM, and 07:15 PM

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Prayer to San Isidro Labrador

St. Isidore, you lived a humble life working the land. You attended Holy Mass each morning

which jeopardized the employment that allowed your family to eat. The Lord repaid your love

by sending his angels to plow the fields while you were at Church.

Dear Isidore, ask Our Lord Jesus to place deep faith in our hearts and water it each day with your prayers that we may progress in holiness as you did. Pray that as our heart grows in love and humility we may be a living sign of Jesus to those around us.

As a farmer who used his hands to bring forth nourishing food please ask Jesus to bless us with a bountiful harvest. Pray that our hands and bodies will remain strong that we may farm the land God has given us.

Ask Jesus to care for our gardens as he tends our hearts. Pray that weeds will be kept far from our fields and likewise give us an aversion to sin. Humbly we ask that you carry the petitions

we hold in our heart to our most loving and generous Lord.

Amen.

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(Source: Wikimedia)

We are now in the fifth church for our virtual Visita Iglesia so we pray the:

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time

Tenth Station: Jesus clothes are taken away

If you missed the earlier stations, I suggest that you visit the churches that we featured earlier in this year’s virtual Visita Iglesia:

Palm Sunday: Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Mandaluyong City)

Holy Monday: Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Pasay City)

Holy Tuesday: Holy Cross Church (Noveleta, Cavite)

Holy Wednesday: National Shrine of Saint Jude (Manila)

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References:

1. San Isidro Labrador Church Facebook page
2. Novena to Saint Isidore from Catholic Doors
3. About St. Isidore from San Isidro Parish website
4. Isidore the Laborer and Maria Torribia from Wikipedia 

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Visita Iglesia 2020: Our Lady of Sorrows Church

When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to Temple for His presentation to the Lord as prescribed by Mosaic Law for all male firstborns of Israel, they received both an uplifting and sad prophecy about their child. Simeon, a priest, upon seeing Jesus prophesied that the child is the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of the people of Israel.

In same prophecy, Simeon said to Mary:

"Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted. And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)

This prophecy revealed to Mary the sorrows that she will experience due to her Son Jesus. She indeed experienced her greatest sorrow during His passion and death on the cross and because of that Christians gave her the title Our Lady of Sorrows or Mater Dolorosa. 

This Holy Monday, I am featuring a church in Pasay that is perfect for one of the Stations of the Cross featured in this post, which is the fourth station: Jesus meets his mother. The church I’m talking about is the Our Lady of Sorrows Church. 

Our Lady of Sorrows Church stands prominently along F. B. Harrison Street due to its facade covered with red bricks. On the facade is the scene of the Crucifixion that features Mary and Apostle John standing beside the crucified Jesus. The image fits the name of this church because it is during the death of Jesus on the cross when Mary experienced her greatest sorrow.

Our Lady of Sorrows Church is the second oldest church in Pasay City. It's first structure was built in 1941 by the priests of the Society of St. Paul but was destroyed during the Second World War. The church structure had to be rebuilt. This explains why the current structure of Our Lady of Sorrows is of modern style despite it being the second oldest church in the city.



The bell tower outside of the church is not that impressive.

The Society of St. Paul's mission is to "use the modern means of communication technology to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the people of today". That's why when the Pauline mission reached the Philippines in 1935, one of the first things that Pauline missionaries did was to operate a printing press in Lipa, Batangas. The Paulines are one of the leading Catholic publishers in the country. If you read many Catholic books, I bet you are familiar with this logo:

(Source: St Pauls)

The Paulines also operated a printing facility in Our Lady of Sorrows Church. 

Our Lady of Sorrows Church is young and not steeped in history unlike the old churches around the Philippines. However, it placed its mark in history by being the church where Ninoy Aquino and President Cory Aquino tied the knot on October 11, 1954.

The centerpiece of the church's altar is the copy of Michelangelo's Pieta. 

The Pieta perfectly captures the great sorrow of Mary as she cradles the lifeless body of her Son.

The prophecy of Simeon came true, a sword pierced through her own soul. Her heart was wounded as if many daggers pierced her heart. 

(Source: Archonfraternity of Immaculate Heart of Mary)

That is why many mothers who lost a child look up to Our Lady of Sorrows for consolation. She knows the pain of losing a son and she knows to console a grieving parent. 

On the left side of the church is the baptistry with a nicely designed baptismal font. 

In front of it is the scene that depicts Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River.

This Holy Week, let us commemorate the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us also call into our mind the sorrows of Mary, who is our Lord's mother and also our mother.

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Those who wish to contact the priests in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, you may contact them through their Facebook page, telephone no. (02) 8831-8293, and e-mail at ourladyofsorrows75@gmail.com

Mass schedules in Our Lady of Sorrows Church are the following:

Monday to Friday: 6:15 AM, 7:00 AM,  and 6:00 PM

Saturdays: 6:15 AM, 7:00 AM,  and 6:00 PM (anticipated mass)

Sundays: 6;00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:15 PM, and 7:30 PM

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Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows (by St. Bonaventure)

O most holy virgin, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and the death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affections for the passing joys of this earth, I may long for the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforth all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed toward this one most desirable object.

Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate mother of God.

Amen.

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(Source: La Divina Voluntad)

We are now in the second church for our virtual Visita Iglesia so we pray the:

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time

Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother

If you missed the earlier stations, I suggest that you visit the churches that we featured earlier in this year’s virtual Visita Iglesia:

Palm Sunday: Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

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References:

1. Prayer to Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows from Catholic News Agency

2. Aquinos mark first Ninoy-Cory wedding anniversary after Cory's death from GMA News Online

3. Society of St. Paul from The Pauline Family

4. Storia from Society of St. Paul
5. Our Lady of Sorrows Church Facebook page

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Visita Iglesia: Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth, & The Life (SM MoA)

In the midst of the busy shopping district of the SM Mall of Asia stands a refuge for tired shoppers. This place is no other than the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

This church always catch my attention whenever we go to SM Mall of Asia. It seems to be out of place because of the shopping complexes around it.

I only got the chance to enter the church after attending a convention at the nearby SMX Convention Center. I instantly fell in love with the its altar that features the scene where the young Jesus was found in the temple after he went missing for three days.

It was the first time that I saw an altar that features the scene where the distraught Mary found the missing Jesus.

I like the way this church was constructed because it retained the traditional look of a Catholic church despite it being in the midst of modern buildings. However, SM MoA’s church is not ornately decorated because it sticked to simplicity. The church’s simple-looking door is the proof of this.

It doesn’t mean that the church doesn't have a tinge of modernism because the tabernacle was placed at the side.

The tabernacle holds the Hosts, which is the Body of Christ Himself. Thus, the tabernacle should be placed at the center.

One thing that caught my attention is this sign:

I guess that cell-fishness is also rampant in this church. I have seen this attitude in the many churches that I visited. Many churchgoers couldn’t put down their phone for a while and put their full attention to the Holy Mass. They no longer respect God.

Outside SM MoA’s church are statues of Saint Pope John Paul II…

...and Cardinal Sin, who was instrumental in the fall of Marcos Dictatorship.

It is good that the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life was built within the SM Mall of Asia Complex. It gives the shoppers and tired mall employees somewhere to go for refuge, for prayers, and the much needed space for them to commune with God.

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Holy Mass is celebrated in the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life every Wednesday at 5 PM and 6:30 PM; every Sunday at 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM, and 7 PM; every Saturday (anticipated mass) at 5:30 PM; and other days at 6 PM.

For weddings, couples must submit their application and complete documents at least two months prior to the date of wedding. For baptism, application must be filed at least two weeks before the date of baptism.

If you are interested in having a baptism for your child in this church, I suggest that you read Maggie's experience for his son's baptism in SM MoA's Church.  

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Finally Revealed! Our Wedding Church: Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

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There is a church that always catch my attention whenever I go to NAIA – Terminal 3. This brown-painted church stood out from the condominiums and commercial buildings fronting the terminal. I never expected, back then, that that church will be the place where me and My Beloved Fiancée Lei will exchange vows and start our forever.

My Beloved Fiancée once said that she wanted our church to have the image of the crucified Lord to be at center. She saw the altar of the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and she immediately fell for it. She decided from that moment that we will get married in this church.

A Little History of the Shrine of St. Therese

The Shrine exists even before condominiums and commercial buildings (like the Resorts World) started popping up in Villamor. It started as a chapel dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel (patron saint of Filipino soldiers). The Philippine Air Force chaplains developed and expanded that chapel and re-dedicated it to St. Therese of the Child Jesus on December 16, 1983. The church was spared from destruction during privatization of some parts of Villamor Airbase through a memo by President Erap.

The church underwent major reconstruction from 2005 to 2007. The church transformed from a humble church into a grand Shrine dedicated for the promotion of the spirituality of St. Therese to the members of the Military Ordinariate.

Location and Contact Details of the Shrine of St. Therese

The Shrine of St. Therese is just a stone’s throw away from NAIA – Terminal 3 and Resorts World Manila (see map above). Soon-to-be-wed couples who don’t have car can easily reach this church by riding the Nichols jeep near the MRT – Taft Station and then alighting near MMDA’s hideous looking globe. The Shrine can either be reached on foot or by riding a tricycle.


The Shrine office is only available from 9 Am to 5 PM, Tuesdays to Sundays. I made a mistake of going to the Shrine of St. Therese on a Monday. I wasted my time because no one was there to entertain me.

The Shrine of St. There can be contacted at telephone no.: 854-3024. You can also visit their website.

What We Saw Inside of the Shrine of St. Therese

What immediately caught my attention during our first visit is the immensity of this church. It can easily seat around 2,000 people. It is so big that the church seems to look empty even with my 100 guests.

The altar doesn’t have the intricate design as in the old Philippine churches. It only have a big (as befits this cavernous church) image of the crucified Lord with the dove (symbolizing the Holy spirit) at the top. I am glad that the Military Ordinariate didn’t follow the trend of placing the tabernacle at the obscure places.

The side walls of the church have (again) big stained glass artworks depicting the life of St. Therese. These stained glass artworks are good background for wedding photos.

The gardens at the side of the church are also good for wedding photos. Many our “dramatic” shots for the AVP were taken at the garden.

For the brides who are concerned about the church door, I can say that it is beautiful but not as intricate as the ones in Manila Cathedral. The good news is that the Shrine allows the door to be closed for the bride’s dramatic entrance. Actually, My Beloved Bride had that “dramatic” entrance.

The Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus is impressive because of its size. If you have a small number of guests, make sure to instruct the photographer to focus his shots on your guests to avoid the empty pews.

The Shrine’s Wedding Packages

The shrine of St. Therese offers two wedding packages which costs 40,500 pesos and 27,500 pesos. Both packages have basic flower decoration, officiating priest, commentator, royal-blue carpet, soloist/pianist, and use of the Shrine for 1 and a half hours. The only difference between the two packages is that the more expensive one is aircondtioned. We chose the 27,000-peso package to save money.

How We Booked the Shrine of St. Therese

The Shrine of Therese is getting popular for weddings. According to the Shrine’s brochure, more than 300 weddings are celebrated in the Shrine every year. That’s almost one wedding per day!

Due to this popularity, the dates that we initially wanted were already booked. Good thing that we managed to book a perfect date, which is 10 AM on a Saturday. We paid 13,500 pesos as down payment to block our chosen date. The full payment was given on our wedding day.

If you want the Shrine for your wedding, I suggest that you be flexible with your wedding date. It is highly probable that the date that you want is already booked. This is true especially for Saturdays and Sundays.  Pencil booking is not allowed. Paying the down payment is the only effective way of blocking off the day that you want.

Everything went well with our preparation for the wedding ceremony. Reverend Smith, the Shrine secretary, was very patient in answering our questions. As for the florist, we just told them that we only wanted the basic arrangement (to save money). We also contacted the soloist/pianist to inform him of the music that we wanted to be played during the wedding ceremony.

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I can confidently say that the Shrine of St. There is a great place for weddings. The church’s interior is beautiful. The altar, with the big image of the crucified Lord, is the perfect background for wedding photos. But more than physical structure of the Shrine, my positive comments goes to the people who runs the place. They were very very helpful during our wedding day. Their help made our special day more special.

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So what happened during our wedding day? Please read the next blog post.

For those who are inquiring about our wedding reception venue, please read my post about Golden Bay Restaurant.

The history of Shrine posted here was referred to the plaque posted on the wall of the Shrine.

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