BY LESLIE AQUINO
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FILIPINO Catholics can observe the traditional “Visita Iglesia” this Holy Week even if they are under home quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Internet.
Through the online Visita Iglesia of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the faithful will have the opportunity to virtually visit seven or more churches without leaving their homes.
“Since 2011, Visita Iglesia has been serving Filipinos in foreign countries where going to physical church or parish was difficult or impossible,” Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III, CBCP Media Office Director, said.
“It also helped Filipino seafarers, the sick and those, for one reason or another, could not make it to churches during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter,” he added.
“Today, when everybody is in quarantine and all liturgy in physical churches are closed to people, Visita Iglesia continues to be a portal for online retreats, catechesis, and liturgical celebrations,” said Quitorio.
Simply visit https://cbcpnews.net/visitaiglesia/visita-iglesia-in-360/ to experience a 360 degrees tour of different Catholic churches in the country.
Among these are the Sto. Nino Church in Anda, Bohol; Church of St. James the Apostle in Betis, Pampanga; St. Joseph Cathedral in Butuan City, and the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo, Leyte.
Filipino Catholics traditionally hold the Visita Iglesia during Maundy Thursday.
During the Visita Iglesia, devotees visit different churches and pray the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Other features of the Visita Iglesia website are the “Pasyon” or the Gregorian chanting of the poetic prayer story on the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, Stations of the Cross, an online retreat, as well as livestreaming of masses.
It also includes catechesis and reflections for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter preached by bishops and priests.
