The Union of Prayer for Vocations (UPV) – St. Anthony of Padua Community organized a 2022 Lenten Visita Iglesia last April 9, 2022, headed by Rev. Fr. Eduardo Fernandez, RCJ. The group consisted of 87 UPV members, friends from Merville, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Alabang, Rogationist postulants, brothers, and priests.
Seven parishes were visited in the province of Batangas, Southern Luzon, Philippines:
Parish and National Shrine of St. Padre Pio (Sto. Tomas). A National Shrine visited by devotees praying for St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina’s intercession for healing, miracles, and peace.
St. John the Evangelist Parish (Tanauan). A church with life-sized tableaus of the 14 Stations of the Cross and architecture with Roman and Renaissance influences.
Nuestra Señora dela Soledad Parish Church Darasa (Tanauan). A parish dedicated to the special form of Marian Devotion that commemorates the solitude of Mary, Mother of Jesus, on Holy Saturday.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish (Lipa City)A neoclassical-baroque architecture was established in 1944, with oil canvass paintings of the miracles of St. Anthony: the Misers’ Heart, the Heretic’s Mule, the Sermon to the Fishes, and the Platform.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (Lipa City). A monastery part of the Carmelites’ convent in Lipa City, where an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace, and a shower of rose petals had been reported in 1946.
Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace Parish (Lipa City). A parish with Spanish-Mediterranean architecture where an apparition of Mary Mediatrix to Teresita Castillo was reported in September 1948.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian (Lipa City). A Renaissance church that was established in 1605 and serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa, the oldest city in Batangas Province.
During the bus ride, reflections led by Rev. Fr. Ed Fernandez, RCJ were played on-screen. Two Stations of the Cross were contemplated at every church visited, led by the Rogationist Postulants.
The Holy Eucharist was celebrated in the Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace Parish in Lipa City by Rev. Fr. Ed Fernandez, RCJ, and Rev. Fr. Jessie Martirizar, RCJ.
Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their desire to join the next Visita Iglesia and future recollections. Several non-UPV members who joined the Visita Iglesia have also signified their interest in joining the Union of Prayer for Vocations.
Submitted by Fr. Jessie Martirizar RCJ, Postulant Director
