14 churches, 14 Stations of the Cross

HOW can you blend a religious tradition with a road trip during Holy Week? You can accomplish this by embarking on the traditional Visita Iglesia by car. It’s an activity the whole family can participate in, fostering meaningful time together while visiting some of the most exquisite heritage churches across the country.

National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy, Marilao, Bulacan Holy Rosary Parish Church, Angeles City, Pampanga Santa Ana Parish Church, Santa Ana, Pampanga Parish of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish – Barasoiain Church, Malolos, Bulacan Procession at National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora, Gapan, Nueva Ecija Chapel of Carmelite Monastery, Angeles City, Pampanga San Bartolome Parish Church, Magalang, Pampanga

The tradition of visiting churches during Holy Week originated in Rome. Early pilgrims would visit several churches, usually seven, to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church as an act of penance. Originally held after the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, the faithful would journey to nearby churches to recite the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and Gloria Patri. The prayers of the Stations of the Cross were later incorporated.

In the Philippines, the Visita Iglesia was introduced by the Spaniards, along with the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross. Instead of the usual seven churches, Filipinos during the Spanish period visited 14 churches on foot, reciting all 14 stations at each church. This was feasible at the time when churches were situated near each other, particularly in old Intramuros where seven churches existed, with seven more found across the Pasig River.

Embarking on the Visita Iglesia on foot is still possible today, especially in places like Manila, Iloilo and Cebu, visiting seven churches and praying two stations per church. People have also taken their cars, driving to seven churches to pray at the 14 stations, and enjoying sightseeing along the way.

Undertaking the Visita Iglesia to 14 churches requires careful preparation. The vehicle, the driver and the passengers must be well-prepared for this spiritual journey.

Preparing for the Visita drive

Driving to 14 churches necessitates meticulous planning. While it’s possible to do it in one day, it can be exhausting, especially for the driver. It’s advisable to plan for two days, with designated church stops and overnight accommodation.

Choose churches with fascinating histories, beautiful architecture, and ample parking spaces. Ensure your vehicle is ready for the long drive with plenty of stopovers. Perform preventive maintenance on your vehicle before embarking on the Holy Week drive.

Booklets containing the prayers are available at any church office. There are now two versions of the Stations of the Cross: the traditional one dating back to the 16th century; and the new version used by Catholic churches in the Philippines. To avoid confusion, it’s best to obtain both versions of the booklet.

Stay hydrated, bring snacks for the journey, and pack plenty of patience. Remember, this is still an act of penance, not merely a family outing.

Embarking on the 14 churches journey

Recently, we embarked on the traditional 14 churches journey by car, and it was the most meaningful journey we’ve experienced in a long time.

Our first stop was the Parish of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela. This church houses the National Pilgrim Image of the Virgin of Fatima, which played a significant role in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Next, we visited the Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Meycauayan, Bulacan. This massive church, built in 1668 from adobe found in Meycauayan, served as a refuge for political activists during the historic Tarlac-to-Tarmac march in 1984.

Our journey continued to the San Miguel Arcangel Church in Marilao, Bulacan, which houses the relic of the apparition of Saint Michael.

We encountered two unique churches in Bulacan: the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon in Bocaue, dedicated to the first Korean-born Catholic saint, and the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Marilao.

In Malolos, we visited Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, also known as the Barasoain Church, and the Minor Basilica and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

After staying overnight in Angeles City, Pampanga, we visited the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery and the Holy Rosary Parish Church, an important cultural property.

Our journey continued to the San Bartolome Parish Church of Magalang, the Santa Ana Parish Church of Santa Ana, and the Santa Catalina Parish Church of Arayat — massive old churches of Pampanga.

Before reaching our 14th stop, the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, we made a brief stop at St. John Nepomucene Parish Church in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

The experience of visiting 14 churches in two days by car taught us patience and allowed us to discover the history behind each church. It reinforced the idea that road trips can also be spiritual journeys.