Visita Iglesia
By Sasha
@diosabella (4789)
April 16, 2017 11:43pm CST
Every year, during Maundy Thursday, my Mom and I do Visita Iglesia or Visiting seven Churches. Before, when my grandparents were still alive, we go to the church and have our traditional "Pabasa ng Pasyon" but since they passed away and it can not be done anymore because we can't find any singers, I asked mom to have a Visita Iglesia with me every Lenten week.
Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting 7 churches during Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. In every church we do 2 stations of the cross. Some people practices the 14 church for every station. But because we don't have out own car and use public transportation, 14 churches a day is simply impossible in our area.
This year visiting was a bit interesting. Its my nephew's 2nd time in coming with us. He was excited because he gets to visit new churches and posts our progress in his Instagram. I don't mind him taking some pictures and posting it but I strictly said that prayers first before selfies. I took a few photos too. 
Do you have any traditions during Lenten season?
Do you have any traditions during Lenten season?8 people like this
9 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
We also do the Visita Iglesia. This year, we did it right after attending the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
3 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
@HAPPSINGH Doing fine friend though it's a very humid day.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
@HAPPSINGH You too friend. I guess we live in one world hahaha!
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
That's great. In some way it was funny that we get to see group of people in the same churches that we visit and we completely don't know them. We just all stared with each other and quite surprised that we get to meet at 4 churches almost at the same time. This never happened to us before.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
Thank you. I have more picture but posting more here is not possible.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
@Mass_Sonu Yes. The one at the right side was made hundreds of years ago and the inside was amazing. I really love old churches than the new ones.
2 people like this
@Mass_Sonu (1021)
• India
17 Apr 17
@diosabella No problem, all the churches look great & the architecture is wonderful
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
I never knew about Visita Iglesia till recently. We never really visited any church during the lenten season. I just remember going to church on Holy Friday evening to pay respect to the body of Christ.
2 people like this
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
Maybe next time you can go too. Its quite an adventure. And a lot of people I know make an outing of it with their families and friends. Some churches have their own "Moriones" show outside their church.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
18 Apr 17
@HAPPSINGH Nope I don't go to church anymore. Holy Friday is only once a year in the lenten season. It was our tradition when my parents were still alive. I don't go to Catholic churches anymore.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
18 Apr 17
@diosabella Nah, I don't have any plans too. I think seeing it as an adventure takes the essence of the meaning of Visita Iglesia. It's sad how something so religious turned into just a tourist attraction.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140102)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
@diosabella I hope, my dear. If my granny is with us, it will surely be done.
2 people like this
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
I think its good enough. 
and you can start a tradition when ever you want.
and you can start a tradition when ever you want. 2 people like this
@diosabella (4789)
•
18 Apr 17
@Shavkat We had "Pabasa" before. My grandparents started it.Well, the singers were old too at that time. I don't think they passed it down to any of their family because when they passed too it was difficult to find any singers.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
my family never did visita iglesia, but our house had been one of the stations of the cross several times, and i've joined them, too, going around our neighborhood. we also did stations of the cross in the church.
i agree it would be grueling to visit 14 churches in one day if you're only commuting and in this heat. and sometimes there are not enough transportation if the drivers are also on vacation. is it okay to ask the names of those churches?
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
18 Apr 17
@diosabella ah, so all these churces are in laguna. thank you for giving their names, and the site you used to make the collage.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
17 Apr 17
When I was little we joined the stationed of the cross in our neighborhood too during Spy Wednesday. Our house was one of the stations. I always gathered different flowers to adorn the station of the Cross picture that was assigned to us.
It was hard to commute but somehow we make fun of it. I also had bottles of water with me and candies.
The churches was from Nuestra Señora de of Candelaria Church in Mabitac, then San Sebastian church in Famy, Nuestra Señora de Turumba in Pakil, Nuestra Señora dela Natividad in Pangil, Paete Church, and St. John the Evangelist in Kalayaan. All of it are in Laguna Province. I have the other pictures of the church that we visited but these are the only pics that are allowed in PhotoCollage.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
23 Apr 17
The purpose of the visit is to pray and do the stations, everything else is not. So we had a talk that if we make it in the church in a good time then pictures later. Somehow a lot of people forget about that. We saw plenty of groups that didn't even bother to pray and just take pictures where ever they want, they dont even considered the people that were praying around. Good thing my patience is long.
1 person likes this
@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
24 Apr 17
@diosabella Oh no. That's really bad.
We should always keep GOD first in everything actually.
You're a sweetheart 
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
28 May 17
That is an interesting tradition. I love to visit different churches especially when I travel - and take photos of them.
@diosabella (4789)
•
28 Apr 17
I have new photo collage but still haven't decided yet what to topic. You shall see soon.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
20 Apr 17
Wow, that's a beautiful tradition. Lovely photos too, thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
