Sunrise Ministry Pilgrimage to Seven Batangas Churches, February 24

The CTK Ministry for the Elderly a.k.a. Sunrise Ministry, headed by Drs. Doy and Estrelle Lopez, held its Lenten Pilgrimage for Seniors last February 24, with a total of 60 seniors and ’super seniors’ in attendance. Of the 60, 22 were from the Libis and Bagumbayan communities wile the rest were from the villages.

The pilgrimage objective was to visit seven churches within the day. Just before the first stop, the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Jorge Banal gave the group an overview of what to expect at the shrine. Although for that day, the Padre Pio relic is exposed for veneration only to the very sick, the shrine donor’s son, Dr. Gonzaga, made arrangements for a special session with the CTK seniors so they could kiss the relics of Padre Pio at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Shrine.

Next stop was Mount Carmel Church in Lipa, where the delegation received the latest update on the supposed Mary Mediatrix apparitions. Petals of roses and stampita were also handed out. The group’s timing was just right because as they were pulling out, seven buses of pilgrims had just arrived.

Then it was off to the baroque San Sebastian Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa, facilitated by Anna Lagman, where the group was met by the PPC Lay Coordinator himself. They had a group photo at the altar and were regaled by the story of the contest as to where the seat of the archdiocese would be located, with the town that could build the biggest church winning the honor. Which is why all the churches in Batangas are huge. In the end, Lipa was chosen because of the elevation and cooler temperature.

The senior pilgrims had lunch at Uncle Cheffy’s in Lipa, tasting the famed Lipa lomi and bulalo, plus tawilis, adobong manok, salad, and turon. In addition, throughout the day, the core team distributed ensaymada, boiled egg, nilagang saba (all prepared by Baby Banal), and Sky Flakes to the pilgrims.

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Batangas City was the first stop after lunch. An interesting side story was how the bus was stopped by a traffic aide for a violation but but when he learned that our Sunrise Ministry members were on a pilgrimage, he radioed all traffic aides who then aided and facilitated throughout their route to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The church reminded a number of the visitors of San Agustin Church in Intramuros.

Bauang’s Immaculate Conception Parish Church was the next stop, arranged by Lupe Lazaro. Although the altar closed off with a curtain due to renovations, the pilgrims still went around the church. Then to Taal, Batangas for the St. Martin of Tours Basilica, care of Dan Lapid. The tour bus couldn’t go up the narrow inclined road so the group had walk up the stairs. But since they were running out of time, the group didn’t hear mass anymore.

Then Qinally, it was off to the Lady of Caysasay Church, also in Taal , arranged by Vinchu Lapid. It was just 150 steps down from St. Martin. But the church was c losed s o they asked the caretaker who courteously opened the church doors for the pilgrimage. It was already 6 pm and the staff always safely secure the Image of the Lady at 5 pm away from the altar. But the caretaker took the elusive image from the convent so the pilgrims could touch it. The pilgrims then walked up 25 steps to check out the well where the image of the Lady was supposedly discovered. Then it was off for home.