Climbing Up the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is one of the latest additions to the many grottos and spiritual places in the Philippines. The shrine was built through the contributions of the many members of the Catholic Church, as coordinated by the Kamay ni Hesus Ministry Foundation. The centerpiece of this shrine is the image of the ressurected Christ located on top of a mountain.
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The large image of Jesus Christ is atop the mountain.

Many people, some coming from places far away from Lucban, visit the shrine for the healing mass of Father Faller and his fellow priests. Masses are scheduled every Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. Healing mass is scheduled every Monday and Saturday. The masses are being celebrated in the shrine's chapel. The chapel's altar also features Jesus Christ as he ascend to heaven.
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Altar of the Kamay ni Hesus chapel.

The area has a wide parking space. There are also stores where one could buy candles, snacks, and other religious items.

Images of the Catholic saints are everywhere. One of the images that I saw is my favorite Marian image: Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
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I greeted San Lorenzo Ruiz before I started my climb to the top.
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Climbing to the top of the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is not easy. I counted 285 steps on the left stairway. The climb is the best moment to reflect upon your relationship with God. It is also the best moment to meditate on  life of our Lord because there are images based on the Gospel.

The narration of Gospel starts with the Annunciation located at the base of the mountain.
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The Sorrowful Mysteries is also complete. First is "The Agony in the Garden":
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Then "The Scourging at the Pillar":
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The third Sorrowful Mystery is "The Crowning with Thorns":
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The fourth Sorrowful Mystery is the "Carrying of the Cross".
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The fifth and last Sorrowful Mystery is the "Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ".
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The scenes for the other Mysteries are also present but I failed to take photos of all of them. Kamay ni Hesus Shrine will be a perfect place for me when I pray the Holy Rosary. Too bad that this shrine is too far away from my house.

The climb was exhausting. I had to rest many times just to catch my breath. The chapel and other structures of the shrine became "small".

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I forgot the exhausting climb when I reached the mountain top because I saw the image of our Lord welcoming me.

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I prayed for a while and thanked our God for all the blessings that He gave me. This image is really huge! It is the largest image of Jesus Christ that I had seen so far.

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Of course, the top of the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine has the best view of Lucban. My eyes feasted on the wonderful view of the land below. I am so happy to see that most of Lucban is still covered in greenery.

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When visiting Lucban, I recommend that you to pass by Kamay ni Hesus Shrine. Climb up the mountain while meditating on your relationship with God. Perhaps God will reveal His plans to you inside this shrine.

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This blog post is a part of the series narrating my adventures at Lucban, Quezon. Read my other blog posts about my visit to Batis Aramin resort and downtown Lucban.

Need more info about Kamay ni Hesus Shrine and the healing masses? Visit the website of Father Faller for info.

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Have you visited Kamay ni Hesus Shrine? Please tell us your experiences by leaving a comment on the comment box below.

The Town of Lucban

I consider the town of Lucban as a big open museum. The place is oozing with history to the point that I saw National Historical Institute markers on the buildings, parks and churches of this town. Aside from its historical significance, the town of Lucban is also famous its tourist spots. One of these spots is the mystical Mount Banahaw.
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Jose Rizal Monument in Lucban.

Lucban's colorful Pahiyas Festival is known throughout the country. The festival showcases the artistry and ingenuity of the people of Quezon. In this festival, the citizens of Lucban decorate their houses with kiping. Kiping was made from rice and was formed and colored according to design that is being made for the house.

I got the chance to visit Lucban due to a company outing. All I can say is that the town of Lucban is beautiful! Their streets are well maintained and almost free of garbage. Those who have asthma can have some respite from the fumes of Metro Manila. History geeks will enjoy touring the town's historical spots. Backpackers can opt to climb the mountains.

Our company outing was held in Batis Aramin, which is just few kilometers from Lucban. I just visited this town for at least an hour to buy my pasalubongs, which allowed me to peek at some of its interesting spots.

 

How to Go to Lucban

 

Going to Lucban, Quezon is not difficult since there are many bus companies that have trips toward the town from Metro Manila. The roads going to the town are well paved. A commuter will have ample time to catch up on their sleep or feast on the greenery of rice fields and mountains on the way to Lucban. Heavy traffic could only be found at the entrance and the exit of the expressway.

There are many ways of reaching Lucban, but what I experienced is the path that passes through the SLEX and Laguna (Calamba, Pagsanjan, and Cavinti). It took me at least four hours of travel time (including the traffic and stop-overs) before reaching Lucban.

Upon reaching the town, one can go to various parts of Lucban by riding the tricycles.

Here some of the places I visited in Lucban:

 

Lucban Church

 

Lucban Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Quezon. The first church was built in 1595 and was ruined in 1629. It was rebuilt in the years between 1930 and 1940 but was again ruined by fire in 1733. The current church was completed in 1738. The nearby convent was finished in 1743.
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The walls and ceiling of Lucban Church is just in plain white. Sadly, I do not have time to enter the church and pray. I didn't even got the chance to take the photo of its altar.
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The bell tower is connected to the church. How I wish that I heard the tolling of the bells of Lucban Church. I do hope that no more catastrophe will happen to this church.

 

Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort

 

This resort is located at the outskirts of Lucban. It boasts three swimming pools, a river where visitors can boat, and a large nature park. The full story Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort is on part II of this blog post.

 

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

 

A new spiritual get-away for the religious. In this place, you will feel God’s love and mercy through the various sculpted scenes of Jesus Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. The grotto has no entrance fee and was built from the donations of Catholics under the leadership of Father Faller. The centerpiece of this shrine is the large icon of the risen Christ atop a mountain. A must see for those who want to restart their relationship with Jesus Christ. My full story on Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is on Part III of this blog post.

 

Lucban Poblacion

 

The poblacion of Lucban is the place where pasalubongs and souvenirs can be bought. There are many shops and bakery in downtown Lucban. Pasalubongs that are for sale are broas, apas, tikoy and many more. I recommend the broas because it is very delicious. The pasalubong are not expensive. A plastic of broas is only 45 Pesos, while the apas is 35 Pesos. Other products are within that price range.

So, those are the places that I visited during my one day visit to the town of Lucban. I know that I missed a lot of interesting places. I mean to visit Lucban in the future because I want to climb Mount Banahaw and see the other spots in Lucban.