DURING HOLY WEEK, some of us would return home to spend precious moments with our families and take a break from school. Others, on the other hand, would venture into a world of sacrifice and piety, commemorating the life of Christ through undertaking Visita Iglesia.
Visita Iglesia, otherwise known as church visit, is integral to every Filipino Catholic’s devotion during the Holy Week. It is a pious practice by which Filipino devotees would visit at least seven to fourteen churches to pray, while reflecting Christ’s last moments, from his passion, death, and resurrection. This tradition started way back in the 1560s introduced by Spanish friars and missionaries.
Participating on the second year of the Visita Iglesia Photowalk were the Bedan Pastoral Ministry (BPM), San Beda Red Lens (SBRL), San Beda Student Council (SC), Assistant Prefect of Student Activities Asst. Prof. Sybil Agreda, M.A. Ed., and Asst. Prof. Ma. Emperatriz C. Gabatbat, M.A., the Chairperson of the Department of Theology of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
In an interview with the two presidents who spearheaded the activity—Jestony Lumabi from BPM and Denise Pangilinan of SBRL—they revealed that, prior to the photowalk proper, they prepared an itinerary regarding the selected churches under the Diocese of Antipolo. Through this, both were aiming at sharing the rich heritage and beauty of the churches in the province of Rizal along with its surrounding areas, as this was where they both grew up and came to know the Lord better.
Practicing the tradition, the following churches were part of the itinerary of the tour of the Visita Iglesia Photowalk Year 2:
Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat – Mendiola, Manila
The Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat is known as one of the Benedictine monasteries in the Philippines. This is also where students at San Beda University (SBU) visit before attending their classes to express their prayers and intentions.
Named after Our Lady of Montserrat, the abbey is dedicated to the image of the Holy Child Jesus of Prague, commonly referred to as the Sto Niño in 1926. Moreover, the splendid oil paintings are a remarkable feature of the church, made by Fr. Lesmez Lopez, OSB.
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light – Cainta, Rizal
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has acknowledged this Marian shrine as the first to receive spiritual affinity from the Diocese of Antipolo. Recently, it had a spiritual bond of affinity to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
The representation of Our Lady of Light in Cainta stands for their devotion. Moreover, the church premises also have a school, dubbed as Cainta Catholic College. On December 1, 2018, the Marian image also received its canonical crowning—which coincides with the feast day of Cainta, Rizal.
Minor Basilica and Parish of St. John the Baptist – Taytay, Rizal
The Minor Basilica and Parish of St. John the Baptist, also widely known as Taytay Church, was just recently declared as a minor basilica last January 29 by Pope Francis. As such, receiving such a title would justify its great historical and cultural significance, especially since the honor was only given to 23 churches in the country.
Furthermore, the image of St. John the Baptist, who was known to have played a pivotal role in administering Jesus’ first sacrament of baptism, is also found in the church. Because of this, many people would prefer to baptize their infants in the said Minor Basilica.
National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage – Antipolo, Rizal
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, also known as the Antipolo Church and Immaculate Conception Parish, is where most Catholics would go to bless their newly acquired vehicles. Additionally, it is also the home of the Marian image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, as well as the residence of the Bishop of Antipolo.
During Holy Week, devotees would practice the Alay Lakad, a way to express devotion through walking, going to church, and praying. On January 14, 1954, the CBCP declared the church the National Shrine to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. And in 1983, it attained its Cathedral status.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish – Antipolo, Rizal
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is well-known for hosting weddings and attracting tourists due to its distinctive architecture. With its serene atmosphere and beautiful Rosary Garden, the church is the perfect spot to pray and contemplate. In fact, the movie entitled “A Second Chance” utilized the church as the setting for the main characters’ wedding ceremony.
The overall design is mainly clear glass rather than traditional stained glass. The church shows a view of the forest as a backdrop, and the roof is made from glass, letting natural light add to its ambiance.
Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus – Antipolo, Rizal
The Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus primarily commemorates the life of St. Therese—emphasizing her values of being generous and loving. Its design is surrounded by stained glass that shows the life of St. Therese, and on the floor, near the main door, is the renowned emblem of St. Therese. The shrine also showcases a Tower of Prayer, with an image of the Resurrection of Christ on top of it.
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned – Marikina, City
In 2003, the city of Marikina recognized Our Lady of the Abandoned as its patroness and the mother of Marikina’s Catholic faith. The image of the lady was said to represent those in need, marginalized, and abandoned. In 2007, the parish was elevated to a Diocesan shrine. The exterior detail of the church has sculptures of Jesus’ twelve apostles on both sides, while the building’s interior features murals depicting the mysteries of the rosary on the ceiling.
Upon reflecting on the unique intricacies of the churches in Antipolo, Pangilinan shared how memorable it was, for her, to “share a part of your life with others” in the venture of getting to know the churches under the Diocese of Antipolo. Lumabi further added that the showcased holy places would ultimately depict the beauty of Rizal’s churches, while showing devotion to the mother of all Filipinos—Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, or the Birhen ng Antipolo.
Following the “success” of the Visita Iglesia Photowalk Year 2, Lumabi expressed his gratitude towards the priests of the Diocese of Antipolo for having been given the opportunity to visit their parish churches. And looking forward to the third year of the Visita Iglesia Photowalk, Pangilinan is now visualizing further exploration and looking for churches that will be part of the itinerary for the next one.
(with Prince Piolo Tagarino)
Photos courtesy of San Beda Red Lens