Every H0ly Thursday during lent als0 kn0wn as
Semana Santa 0r Cuaresma, it has been the traditi0n 0f the Filipin0 Cath0lic faithful t0 d0 the
Visita Iglesia,
literally, church visit. This practice intr0duced by the Spanish
c0l0nizers g0es back t0 the time 0f the early church where Christians
w0uld visit seven great basilicas in R0me f0r the ad0rati0n 0f the
Blessed Sacrament during Maundy Thursday.
F0r us Filipin0s, it is n0t 0nly the Blessed Sacrament but a
c0ntemplati0n 0f the f0urteen stati0ns 0f the cr0ss. Traditi0nally seven
churches are visited where tw0 stati0ns per visit. While 0thers, with
m0re time and eff0rt visit f0urteen.
For the first time, my family and neighbor gathered together and went to a Biseta Iglesia on the eve of Jesus' crucifiction. About more than fifteen years since I stopped this one activity that we used to do with my friends during Lenten Season. This time kids were the majority of our company. It was fortunate of them to have experienced this major occasion in the Catholic Church. I didn't have this when I was their age.
Last year, several Mission Stations were built in the city. Hence, it has become more convenient for us to do the Bisita Iglesia unlike in several years when one has to travel for other Municipalities which are far from each other.
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| St Padre Pio Mission Station, Brgy. Gabuan, Roxas City |
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| Jesus of Nazareth Mission Station, Brgy Baybay, Roxas City |
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| Sto Nino Chapel, Brgy. Cagay, Roxas City |
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| Sto. Nino Quasi Parish, Brgy. Balijuagan, Roxas City |
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| Carmelite Monastery |
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| Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Church |
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| Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral |
