The National Shrine of the Sacred Heart

In Makati, Philippines

On October 2, 2009 (First Friday of the month), the NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART was declared a JUBILEE SHRINE, officiated by the former Archbishop of Manila; Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales at a concelebrated Mass in the morning.

The honor is granted to this Church for being a National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, this same year being declared a Year of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, plus being the Year of the Priests (150th death anniversary of St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars - Parish Priest of Ars).

To gain the plenary indulgence, all who visit the Shrine must be in the state of grace, receive Holy Communion, and say the following prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (Pope Benedict XVI) and Priests: Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and the invocations: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us; St. John Marie Vianney, Pray for us  .

St. Anthony Church - Macau

This church was first made of bamboo and wood before 1560, this is one of the oldest churches in Macao. The church was reconstructed in stone in 1638 and rebuilt in 1810 and 1875, while the present appearance and scale of the church dates back to 1930.

The Cathedral Church of Macau

Do not confuse the Macau Cathedral with the Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, which is now only a standing facade. The Macau Cathedral has been a church since 1576. The original church was rebuilt in 1850 to a much larger size. A typhoon severely damaged that church in the 1870s. It was finally rebuilt in 1937 in concrete, in the form which remains today. Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Bishop's Palace with a small museum and across from the church is a pleasant square with a fountain, large cross and many benches.

St. Dominic Church

In Macau

The St. Dominic's Church located near Leal Senado is a Catholic church. The church was built in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests, and it was where the first Portuguese newspaper, “A Abelha da China” (The China Bee), was published in 1822. The church is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

In Hong Kong

When we visited Hong Kong, we attended English Sunday Mass around 9:30AM at this Cathedral and it was a very pleasant scene to see different races of people worshiping the Lord as one. Whether Asian, European, American, African, Australian, Caucasian, White, Black, Brown, Dark, tall and short - all are gathering before the Lord our God.

Holy Week Procession

In Maragondon, Cavite

Holy Week is a significant religious festival in the Philippines. Holy Week is known as “Semana Santa” (the original Spanish name), or by its Filipino name “Mahál na Araw”. Many communities observe procession of the Passion of Christ which is held during the evening of Good Friday in Maragondon, Cavite.

Have you experienced joining a procession in the Philippines? Everybody should at least try it once in their lifetime. It is said that you are also in one with the Passion and Death of Christ. See the rest of the blog...

Nuestra Senora De La Asuncion Parish

In Maragondon, Cavite

The Nuestra Senora De La Asuncion Parish (or Our Lady of the Assumption Parish) is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and was erected by the Jesuit friars in the year 1618 and was made a parochial church in 1627. It was declared a national heritage by the national museum in July 31, 2001

The Pink Sisters

In Tagaytay

We usually make it a point to visit Pink Sister's convent every time we go to Tagaytay.

Visita Iglesia 2012

In Hong Kong and Macau

Because of our busy and hectic schedule during the Holy Week, my wife and I have not visited 7 churches as part of our devotion and heritage. We were supposed to visit the churches of Cavite province from Bacoor all the way to Maragondon, Cavite. But everything was too tight for our schedule so we decided to have the Visita Iglesia some other time.

And when we travelled to Hong Kong and Macau on the last week of April, we decided to make this our Visita Iglesia for 2012.

1)      Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

Website: http://cathedral.catholic.org.hk/index.php?id=4

National Shrine – Mary Help of Christians Parish

In barangay Don Bosco, Betterliving subdivision, Paranaque City, Philippines

On May 24, 1972, the cornerstone of the Shrine was laid in the land donated by the Serrano and Dolor families at Better Living Subdivision, Parañaque, adjacent to the Provincial Office of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Block by block, month by month the shrine rose from the ground. Mary Help of Christians would finally have a home of her own. In June 1975 His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin created the parish of Mary Help of Christians and designated the shrine as the parish church and the Salesian Fr. Pierangelo Quaranta as its first pastor. By July 24, 1975 the Parish of Mary Help of Christians was officially inaugurated at the Shrine. Fr. Quaranta with a host of parishioners and benefactors spearheaded the completion of the Shrine. The Church was solemnly consecrated on December 4, 1976 during the silver jubilee year celebrations of Salesian presence in the Philippines. As pastor, Fr. Quaranta zealously spread the devotion to Mary Help of Christians among the parishioners. To date, the statue of Mary Help of Christians is enthroned at prominent street corners of the parish.

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

50 Ophir Road, Singapore

This is a Catholic church in Singapore and Seat of the Archdiocese of Singapore. It is located at Ophir Road in the Rochor Planning Area, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. This was constructed in 1888 and is the first Tamil Catholic church in Singapore. Its design is modeled after the original church at Lourdes, France.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was gazetted as a national monument on January 14, 2005.

St. John Cathedral

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

St John's Cathedral is a whitewashed cathedral with twin spires, located at the center of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. It is a Roman Catholic Church and is aligned to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. It was originally opened in 1883, making it one of Kuala Lumpur's oldest buildings. January 8th is the anniversary of its dedication.

 

St. John the Evangelist Parish Church

Tanauan, Batangas

 

Minor Basilica of Immaculate Conception - Batangas City

This Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is located in the heart of Batangas City, the provincial capital of the Province of Batangas

Church History

·         On 1581, the original church was built by Father Diego Mojica an Agustinian Friar and pastor of Calapan
·        The church was offered to the Immaculate Conception
·         The foundation of the second church was positioned in the year 1601
·         Church construction from 1682 to 1721
·         In 1693, a convent was added, along with some artillery to ward-off pirates.
·         And then the 2nd church was torn down after 179 years.
·         In 1851, Fr. Pedro Cuesta had the current church constructed.
·         It was blessed on February 2, 1857
·         Established as a Minor Basilica on February 13, 1948.

Jakarta Cathedral

Jakarta Cathedral (Indonesian: Gereja Katedral Jakarta) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta.

Its official name is “Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung Diangkat Ke Surga” which means “The Church of Our Lady of Assumption”.

This cathedral was consecrated in 1901 and built in the neo-gothic style. The Jakarta Cathedral is located in Central Jakarta near Merdeka Square and Merdeka Palace, it is stood right in the front of Istiqlal Mosque

Gereja Santa Theresia

Gereja Santa Theresia a Catholic Church located in Menteng (in front of Sarinah) Jakarta Indonesia

Sto. Domingo Abucay Church

In Abucay, Bataan

The 400+ year old church constructed in 1587 during the Spanish regime, this is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. And the spiritual ministration of Abucay was entrusted to the Dominicans in 1588. It was in this church where Tomas Pinpin printed the earliest books in the Philippines together with his co-author and teacher, Father Jose Blancas de San Jose.

Bagac Parish Church

St Catherine of Alexandria Parish

The St.Catherine of Alexandria Church in Bagac is one of the oldest churches in Bataan. However, this is the only remaining colonial feature of the L-shaped church that is only seen at the walls along the left side and almost everything is already renovated.

The San Jose Cathedral

In Balanga, Bataan

This Cathedral is headed by Bishop Socrates Villegas the third Bishop of the Diocese of Balanga. He was also named Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. 

Balanga is formerly belonged to Abucay Church and became an independent in 1739. Rev. Benito Rivas, O.P., strengthened this church by fortifying its wall. Rev. Juan Antonio Vicente, O.P, roofed it with galvanized iron and decorated the interior. Rev. Mariano Ma. Minano, O.P., from 1838-1846 constructed the arch of the choir loft and made the baptismal font out of granite from Mariveles. 

A 400 yr old - Coral Stone Church

Did you know that the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church in Morong, Bataan is a 400 year old coral stone church? Based on research, “Coral Stone” is a trade-name for Fossilized Limestone. Limestones are a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate. This type of limestone is highly fossiliferous with calcium rich remains of ancient marine creatures trapped in the sediments of the banks or coral reefs where they once lived.