Pilgrimage apostolate Green Faith Travels brings pilgrims to the national shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Santo Tomas and seven other churches and chapels in Lipa City and Balete in Batangas on March 18 for its annual Lenten Pilgrimage of Faith and Heritage.
Now on its fifth Lenten journey, devotees of Saint Padre Pio and the Blessed Mother will also visit and pray at the following churches in Lipa City, known as the country’s “Little Rome”: Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa; Carmel of Our Lady Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace (Carmelite Monastery); Parish of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace; Divino Amor Chapel (Redemptorist Shrine); Parish of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Barangay Talisay; and Parish of Santo Niño in Barangay Marawoy. The pilgrims will also visit the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Marian Orchard in Balete, Batangas, a sprawling prayer park that has become an oasis for quiet contemplations of thousands of local and foreign visitors.
The Catholic-themed gardens feature a plaza of the apostles, Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces prayer hall, Via Crucis gardens, meditation gardens, Two Hearts promenade and garden steps.
The Sacred Heart tower is its highest point, where pilgrims may see the Taal Lake and volcano island and the mountains of Makiling, Maculot, Malarayat and Banahaw.
Padre Pio shrine
The archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Padre Pio became a national shrine upon the declaration of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on September 14, 2015. The Catholic faithful hear Mass, confess and pray for their intentions through the intercession of Saint Padre Pio, known for his miracles of healing and blessings.
From its old church made of nipa (coconut-palm leaves or cogon grass) and bamboo, the design of the new main church was inspired by nature and ecology. Its tropical design made use of wood, stone, bamboo and sasa (leaves from a variety of bamboo) with the roof of the church shaped-like a giant salakot (native wide-brimmed hat made of palm leaves).
The salakot “reminds the faithful of how God protects us from all evil and harm” just as how it also keeps farmers and fishermen protected from the elements. The shrine’s whole concept is to have a “unique, serene and welcoming church that naturally draws people to pray and be inspired by God and nature which He created.”
Green Faith Travels is on its sixth year as a noncommercial Catholic apostolate organizing pilgrimages and spiritual travels.
Interested parties may inquire at 0926-6152596, e-mail greenfaithtravels@gmail.com and greenfaithtravels@yahoo.com or visit www.facebook.com/greenfaithtravels for details.