A Personalized Pilgrimage

Whenever I meet these 3 gal pals the experience is always different.
And truly it was again this time.

  Meeting place. Hugs, breakfast and bandanas too.

Since 2016 has been declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy (Dec 8, 2015 to November 30, 2016) our priest friend suggested we first go through the Holy Door at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (one of the 5 Holy Doors in the province). Before passing through the Holy Door we recited a few prayers and asked for mercy. After passing through the Holy Door we recited a few more prayers of thanks.

St. Peter statue guarding the Holy Door.

After the Holy Door we traveled South to the shrine of Archbishop Teofilo Camomot in Valladolid, Carcar. Holy Mass was celebrated by our accompanying priest. It was a small intimate mass with us, few attendees from the public and the nuns of the Daughters of Saint Theresa.

The nuns invited us for lunch of utan bisaya, pansit and menudo.

Simple pleasures. (Sorry, no pics).

 From Carcar we went back to Cebu city but dropped by for a visit at the
San Pedro Calungsod chapel by the SRP.

To close the day we headed towards Barangay Suba, Pasil to visit the Missionaries of Charity. The road to the place was as tight as tight could be. There were trisikads, half-clothed children, tattooed men, cribs, and women frying bananas for sale, on the street. Makeshift stores with windows having to be folded just so we can pass by. 

The Missionaries of Charity is an order founded by Mother Theresa of Calcutta. It's primary task is to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. Their vow is to give whole-hearted full service to the poorest of the poor. This home at Pasil is a home for the sick and malnourished children.  

Even before we have properly parked we heard the voices of the children welcoming us. We brought cans of milk and had a sack of rice delivered beforehand. The head nun showed us the place. Even inside the prayer room we could hear the voice of Meghan Taylor blaring from a radio outside. It is not the best of circumstances but it is a proof that one can grow just wherever planted.

There was a tug in my heart when we carried the children and when it was time to go - the one I carried won't let go. Not only did they need proper nourishment they also needed human touch.


No other day could be spent better. What a lovely day.