Let us begin our Visita Iglesia from the Cathedral of Saint Sebastian in the heart of Downtown Bacolod. It is located just in front of the Bacolod City Plaza. San Sebastian Cathedral is the Seat of our Diocesan Bishop, Bishop Vicente Navarra, DD. The Church was constructed by Recollect Priest, Fray Mauricio Ferrero, OAR on April 27, 1876. I learned that he got permission from the politico-military Governor at that time to use the prisoners to transport coral stones from Guimaras Island. As an exchange deal, Fray Ferrero was supposed to build the old Provincial Jail. Imagine, prisoners of war trying to build San Sebastian Cathedral. Yes, in the eyes of the ruling Spaniards, those Filipinos were outlaws who needed to be incarcerated. Though in chains, their hands were kept busy building this holy temple so that the people of Bacolod could come together as a community of believers.
From San Sebastian Cathedral, let us proceed to Padre Pio Chapel, right side of the Sacred Heart Shrine. This is the latest structure found inside the Sacred Heart Seminary Compound. This new edifice, gives balance to the other chapel built at the left side of the Sacred Heart Shrine intended for Eucharistic Adoration. Padre Pio Chapel was built basically for funeral wakes providing a comfortable chapel for bereaved families. Other Sacraments like Baptism are also celebrated in this Chapel, if other chapels are not available as in the case of a wedding in the Shrine, a Mass in the Seminary Chapel, and a Baptism at Padre Pio Chapel all done simultaneously. It's good to reflect at the process of how our diocesan seminarians are being formed in this same compound. We need to pray for more vocations to the Priesthood, for their perseverance and for a solid formation so that our diocese will have good shepherds of the flock.
From Sacred Heart Shrine, let us walk towards the Oratory of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. In this Oratory, our pupils, students, teachers, staff and administrators take part in the Eucharistic Celebrations and other Liturgical Celebrations. This Oratory is a Quasi Parish which falls under the Parish of San Antonio Abad. Recollect Fathers administer the sacraments here, looking after the overall welfare of members of this academic community. Residents near the area prefer to come and attend daily or at least Sunday Masses to celebrate the Lord's Day. In this Church, it is good to consider how children, youth and young adults are molded into becoming responsible Catholics, docile to the life of the spirit.
From the big Oratory, join me in walking through the Museum of Trees inside the Green Campus of UNO-Recoletos to the Earth Chapel, the first solar-powered Religiious Structure in the Philippines. This was constructed through the initiative of Recollect, Brother Jakosalem, OAR. In the Earth Chapel we can meditate on how we can best improve our stewardship of God's Creation. We make our pledge with St. Francis of Assisi who sung his hymn to Brother Sun and Sister Moon. We are aware of the effects of climate change. We know that we have contributed to the damage in one way or another.
Our next stop is the Parish Church of St. Joseph the Worker at Dona Juliana Subdivision. This is a Church located in a residential area aptly named as St. Joseph the Worker. We pray that the fathers of families living in this residential community may work hard and provide for their families just as St. Joseph did for the Holy Family. We pray for mothers, too, that they may not tire to take care of their families. Like Mama Mary, may all mothers emulate the virtues of self-sacrifice and become good examples to their growing children. We pray for children and youth, that they may grow in wisdom and grace like the child Jesus.
St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Church is found in Alijis, Bacolod City. This Church was mainly a product of the generosity of former President, Joseph Ejercito Estrada and was constructed under the able leadership of former Parish Priest, Fr Felix Pasquin.St.Jude Thaddeus is a Parish Church located in an area near two major cemeteries in the City of Bacolod namely, Bacolod Memorial Park and Sanctuario de Bacolod. Due to the proximity of these two cemeteries, it is good to meditate on the end of our journey. After all is said and done, how do we face our God?
Our last and seventh Church is St. Ezekiel Moreno Moanstery Chapel. Sorry but I will still go to St Ezekiel to take a picture of our seventh Church.There are many Churches in the Diocese of Bacolod and I got photos of them. Why would I include a Monastery Church in this particular Visita Iglesia? My logic is simple, we need to include one of the power houses of prayer in this Diocese. There are actually two contemplative monasteries and community of nuns namely, the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph and that of the Recollect Monastery of St. Ezekiel: one at the northern part of the city and another at the southern portion. Prayer is a very important component of our Christian Life. We join our prayers with those of the contemplative nuns, that we may truly accompany Jesus on the night of Holy Thursday in his Agony.
MAY HOLY WEEK 2014 BRING US PEACE AND GROWTH.
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