Inside Track: VISITA IGLESIA: Churches in Cagayan to pray this Holy Week

St. Peter's Cathedral Tuguegarao City

Church Visitation also known as Visita Iglesia is an ancient religious Catholic tradition observed during Holy Week -specifically on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. During Visita Iglesia, believers visit (7) seven to 14 (fourteen) churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church and to reflect on Jesus’ sufferings.

Today, thousands of Filipino Catholics still practice Visita Iglesia. Some of them go to different provinces of Philippines and others even go abroad just to practice this tradition. However, for Cagayanos there’s no need for us to leave our own province because there are plenty of churches to visit within Cagayan.

Here are Eight (8) Churches in Cagayan (in-order) which you may consider for your Visita Iglesia:

1. BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT

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Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is located in the outskirts of Piat Cagayan, just 1 (one) hour drive from Tuguegarao City. The shrine is dubbed as the PILGRIMAGE CENTER OF THE NORTH, and a home to the 407-year-old Black Virgin Mary, OUR LADY OF PIAT.

The altar of Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

2. SAINT PETER METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

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Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as the Tuguegarao Cathedral, is an 18th-century Baroque church located along Rizal Street, Barangay Centro 10, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines. The church, originally built by Dominican friars, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuguegarao and is considered as one of the largest churches in the Cagayan Valley

Inside Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral.

The interior designs of the church are exceptional. The details of the church’s ceiling are so intricate and very artistic.

3. SAN JACINTO ERMITA CHURCH

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San Jacinto Ermita Church (St. Hyacinth Church) or Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto is located in Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City. It is an elevated chapel whose construction dates back from 1600-1724. The small church is 100 years older than the St. Peter Cathedral.

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The altar of Basilica Minore of San Jacinto Ermita Church (St. Hyacinth Church) or Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto

4. STO. NIÑO PARISH

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Sto. Niño Parish - Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sto. Niño - San Gabriel is located at Main Street, San Gabriel Village, Tuguegarao City.

The altar of Sto. Niño Parish

5. STA. ROSA DE LIMA PARISH CHURCH

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Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church is located in Annafunan, Tuguegarao City. Historians remember St. Rose of Lima for her piety and chastity. Her beauty was so great that she was nicknamed "Rose". According to legend, a servant had a vision where her face turned into a rose. At her confirmation in 1597, she officially took the name of Rose.

6. PARISH OF THE DIVINE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

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Parish of The Divine Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ is located at Maharlika Highway Brgy Leonarda Tuguegarao,Cagayan.

The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC. A — Ask for His Mercy. B — Be merciful. C — Completely trust in Jesus.

7. ST. CLARE MONASTERY CHURCH

St. Clare Monastery is located in Bayo, Iguig Cagayan. It is a 15 to 20 minutes drive from Centro, Tuguegarao City. St. Clare Monastery is considered as the center for mediation and spiritual retreat, and it is also a popular pilgrimage site in the province

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St. Clare was designated as the patron saint of television in 1958 by Pope Pius XII, because when St. Clare was very ill, she could not attend mass and was reportedly able to see and hear it on the wall in her room. She is also the patroness of eye disease, goldsmiths, and laundry.

8. CHURCH OF SAN ANTONIO DE GALICIA

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The church is located in Centro, Iguig Cagayan. It was constructed from brick and stone. The church is believed to have been erected circa 1765 to 1787 under the parish priest Pedro de San Pedro, who also built the well, the convent, the staircase, and a bridge. It is the first church in the Cagayan Valley region to make use of galvanized iron sheets for roofing. (Wikipilinas)

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Located at the back of the church is Calvary Hills. Calvary Hills consists of 11 hectares of rolling hills where enormous concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross could be found. Because of this, it is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week. For me, this is the best place to end your Visita Iglesia since the life-size concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross will help you grasp a clearer picture of the sufferings of Jesus for our salvation. Also, walking in the 11 hectares of rolling hills and under the scorching heat of the sun to pray the holy rosary in each station will give you a deeper sense of penance and connection to the spirit of the Holy Week celebration

You may also want to visit the following historical churches: