ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

Lenten Pilgrimage of Faith and Heritage in Batangas

Would be joining the pilgrimage arranged by Green Faith Travels.  Would be alone as my usual companions would not be joining.

Meet-up is at McDonald's Greenbelt.  It's a 4AM registration and 4:30AM departure.  Was able to arrive before the scheduled departure.  Should have been at the back of the bus (was assigned to Bus #1) but one pilgrim won't be able to make it; thus, took his/her seat.

On the way to St. Padre Pio National Shrine at Sto. Tomas, stopped at a gasoline station to pick-up more pilgrims.  We also prayed "A Pilgrim's Prayer" and the rosary.

"Loving Father, be our Guide and Companion on this Lenten pilgrimage.

May we delight in everyone we shall meet and recognize Your presence in our encounter with people who may at first be strangers to us.

Bless our visit to seven churches so that on Your Holy Ground we may be able to hear Your voice speaking to us in the silence of our heart.

Grant us Your mercy and love in this journey of renewing our faith and rediscovering Your presence and work in our life.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we will have a burning instinct only for You.  Remove all obstacles that block the flow of Your grace in our life.  Heal us from our brokenness and forgive our sins.

During our journey, grant us the grace from our Blessed Mother and fill us with her virtues because she is the delight of Your heart.

May there be serenity and calm within us despite disappointments and moments of inconvenience.  Whatever comes our way, help us to carry on with a joyful heart.

We trust in Your loving providence and protection to bring us safely to our destinations without undue disturbance or worry.

And on this Holy Year of Mercy, may you embrace us with your compassion and mercy and love as we strive to renew our faith.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, pray for us.
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Sebastian, pray for us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen."

We would be having our breakfast at Batanguenas Restaurant, which is inside the Shrine's compound.

Batanguenas Restaurant

After breakfast, we went to the Divine Mercy Pilgrims Center to attend the Mass and for the blessing.  Our religious items were also blessed.  Also, prayed here Stations 1 to 3 of the Way of the Cross.  After, we have our free time.  An afterthought, should have bought more images of Padre Pio as well as novena.

St. Padre Pio National Shrine

Next stop is the Minim Nuns of Saint Francis of Paola at Bgy. Lumbang Lipa.  There were only five nun monks: 2 Spanish, 2 Filipina and 1 South African.  According to Bro. Edwin, they observe Lenten practice all year (fasting, abstinence, etc.).  We prayed Stations 4 and 5.

Minim Nuns of Saint Francis of Paola

Next church is the St. Therese of the Child Jesus at Lipa.  When we arrived there, there's a wedding.  Have to wait before we can pray Station 6.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Then, a lenten buffet lunch at Lima Park Hotel's Occasion Garden House.

Lima Park Hotel

Next church is the Parish of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace at Bgy. Antipolo del Norte, Lipa.  This where we prayed Station 7.

Parish of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace

A few steps away is the Carmel of Our Lady Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace where the apparition happened with Sister Teresing, who died last year.  I was also able to buy here the novena to Sleeping Joseph.

Carmel of Our Lady Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace

"PRAYER TO THE FATHER FOR HEALING

Heavenly Father, I call on You right now in a special way.
It is through Your power that I was created.
Every breath I take, every morning I wake, and every moment of every hour,
I live under Your power.

Father, I ask You now to touch me with that same power.
For if You created me from nothing, You can certainly recreate me.
Fill me with the healing power of Your spirit.
Cast out anything that should not be in me.
Mend what is broken.  Root out any unproductive cells.
Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas.
Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection.

Let the warmth of Your healing love pass through my body to make new
any unhealthy areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function.

And Father, restore me to full health in mind and body
so that I may serve You the rest of my life.

With the prayer of Mary, Mediatrix fo All Grace, I raise up these petitions,
through Jesus, Her Son and Our Lord, forever and ever.  Amen."

Next stop is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian (Lipa Cathedral) where we prayed Stations 10 and 11.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian (Lipa Cathedral)

We then went to the Parish of Sto. Nino at Bgy. Marawoy, Lipa where we prayed Station 11.

Parish of Sto. Nino

Our last stop is at Marian Orchard at Balete where we hope we can attend the anticipated Mass (we were late; thus, go to Mass tomorrow).  We prayed the last three Stations of the Cross.

Marian Orchard

Then, proceeded back to Greenbelt where we arrived around 8PM.

Had dinner first at Bistro Ravioli before going home.

posted by ~GFA~ @ 3/18/2017 08:52:00 PM