Our Cagayan de Oro Visita Iglesia 2015

Believe it or not, it was our first time to do the Visita Iglesia yesterday. Although I heard about it but have not done the practice. All I remember during my childhood days back in our hometown Zamboanga City, we usually do the station of the cross at the Abong-abong, Pasonanca.

Originally, excerpt from Wikipedia;

The Seven Churches Visitation also known as Visita Iglesia is a pious Roman Catholic Lenten tradition to visit seven churches onMaundy Thursday.^[1] On Maundy Thursday of Holy Week, following the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Blessed Sacrament, the "bread" of the mass, is laid on the Altar of Repose in the church for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During the Seven Churches Visitation or VisitaIglesia, the faithful visit several churches – sometimes seven, sometimes fourteen, sometimes no set number depending upon the particular practice – to pray in front of each church's Blessed Sacrament.

Although the practice of Visita Iglesia originally done after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Maundy Thursday, many Catholic devotees does the practice before the mass or the early hours of Thursday.

I always wanted to start practicing the Visita Iglesia, but because of many reasons, I wasn’t able to the past years. This year, I took the chance and started the tradition with my husband since he is also off duty on Maundy Thursday. Because we are both first timers, I have to search the internet for a guide and found the “Visita Iglesia, Guide, Reflections and Prayers” which I got from St. Pauls at Lim Ket Kai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.

I wanted to take the kids with us, but hubby did not agree to bring them along because both had a runny nose and will probably worsen because of the very hot weather.

At 9AM, Hubby and I left the house and started our Visita Iglesia, targeting 7 churches near our area.

Church No. 1. We choose St. Peregrine Chapel, Terryhills Subdivision as our 1^st Church in the list, since we are living in the same neighborhood.

Said the prayers in the booklet, read the scriptures and reflections,

           Gospel: Matthew 26:26-30

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

also said our personal prayers and appreciations to our Lord,then proceeded to the next church.

Church No. 2. The Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Bulua, located along the highway is also the church we had our baby girl baptized last year.

           Gospel: John 13:4-10, 12-15

4 So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Church No. 3. The 3^rd church was the San Isidro Labrador Eco-church in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro. We have never been in the church before, but it wasn’t that hard finding it because of the GPS enabled smartphones.

Gospel: John 17:1, 3-6, 8-9, 11, 14-15, 17

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

  

Church No. 4. Located also in Kauswagan, is the Sanctuario Eucaristico – Sacred Heart Parish our 4^th Church of our Visita Iglesia.

Gospel: Luke 22:39-44

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Church No. 5. Next stop is the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro. Though I always passed by the area, it was my first time to really visit the church.

Gospel: Matthew 26:40-41

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

 Church No. 6. At the heart of Barangay Nazareth, is The San Antonio de Padua Parish is the 6^th church on the list.

          Gospel: Mark 14:45-50

45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Church No. 7. And we saved the seat of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral as our 7^th and final church of our Visita Iglesia list.

Gospel: Mark 14:60-64

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.

By 12 noon we are done with the visitation, reflection and prayers. It was a very uplifting experience for hubby and I, we promise to continue the tradition we embarked next year and the years after and by that time, we’ll bringing the kids with us.

Have Blessed Lenten Season!