for our love of travel! sharing our tips and tricks
This trip in Ireland is one of the most cultural enriching in our list. Ireland is normally a quick stopover for most European vacations, but there are a lot to see and learn about this country. We decided to explore and immerse ourselves for 7 …
Things To Do: Visit the various public markets. Spain, by far, offers the best of food choices compared to other countries we have visited in Europe. Thus, the first order of business is to eat. I love the tapa style as we get to pick …
Our summer 2019 family vacation is now in the book. This time we explored part Northeastern America. We flew to La Guardia as it offers the cheapest flight in the region and drove to the Adirondack Mountains, then to Ottawa and Quebec province in Canada. …
It’s been a fantastic journey with the Kansas City Stars for almost ten years. Each time I step on the ice, I am taught the lesson to be grateful for the opportunity given to me by my coaches and my teammates. Playing this game, I truly …
One of the highlights of my pilgrimage to Jerusalem is walking the Stations of the Cross at Via Dolorosa. We started at Fortress Antonia and navigated our way at Via Dolorosa to Mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified, died and buried at the Holy Sepulcher. …
One of the traditions we do as a family on Holy Week is to visit seven churches on Good Friday. With restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to visit the traditional way. Instead, I put together seven churches we visited in our travel adventures in the past. After looking through these pictures I again admired the beauty and majesty of these depictions built by man to praise and evangelize the love of God to mankind. We all know that we cannot access any church around the world today but let us be reminded that God still loves us and remains with us. We don’t have to go anywhere to acknowledge and admire, His always loves us and He remains in our hearts.
Located in Stockbridge, MA, USA
My devotion to the Divine Mercy was greatly influenced by my mom. She has every novena prayer and the image of Divine Mercy in her room. Also, I always treasure the date when Saint Pope John Paul visited the Philippines in World Youth Day in 1995 and I was part of the 6 million to attend the mass rally in Manila. Growing up in the Philippines until this date, I know that the 3 o’clock Divine Mercy is still being recited on various public places around the Philippines, where people pause whatever they are doing and spend a minute or two to pray as the Divine Mercy 3 o’clock prayer as it’s announced in paging systems. With this, I am a huge fan of Saint Pope John Paul and Saint Faustina as main proponents of the Divine Mercy. Our visit to the Shrine became surreal, especially seeing the relics of both saints in the church. The grounds is huge and serene and a perfect place for meditation. The stations of the cross with bigger that life size statues are one of my favorite and is situated just in the front yard of the church. I can only imagine that the place is crowded with pilgrims from all over the world during the Divine Mercy Feast Day.
Located in Quebec, Canada
One of the highlight of our trip in Quebec is the visit to this sanctuary which is a gem just a few miles from Old Quebec town. I admire the intricacies of the religious paintings in the ceiling. It’s dense yet very pleasant because of the neutral colors. We also had a chance to see a relic of Saint Anne in the main church. The sanctuary is a destination of pilgrims from around the with great devotion to the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus.
Located in Fátima, Portugal
This is a bucket list destination for every Marian pilgrim and I am so blessed having checked this on my own list. We drove to this small town in Portugal from Lisbon and spent a day in the shrine. This is the site of our Lady’s apparition to three children Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco from May 13 to October 13, 1917. We visited the visited the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, prayed a rosary and attended Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Apparition. This is the place where Mary teach us the Fatima Prayer that we recite in between decades of the rosary. Our lady message is to Pray the Holy Rosary everyday for the salvation of the world.
Located in Santarém, Portugal
One of the multiple sites of the miracle of the bleeding host. It’s such a sacred experience to be able to see up close the actual host in the tabernacle of this olden church of an ordinary small town in Portugal. With the help of a couple who are the caretaker of the church, they escorted us at the back and climbed up to see up close the bleeding host. Though the miracle happened in the 12th century, the blood appears red, fresh and visible when we saw it. This is a reminder that God is in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist that we celebrate on each Holy Mass around the world. He is with us and stay within us as we consume in the Holy Communion.
Located in Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain
This is a day trip and a getaway time from the hustle and bustle of the city in Barcelona, Spain, if you time it right. Mornings could also be busy as this a popular destination for tourist. We arrived here at around noon via a scenic train ride with the view of the serrated mountain top where the Abbey is located. The Basilica houses the image of Our Lady of Monserrat (La Moreneta) with the dark skin. Legend says that it is carved by St. Luke, however, history recorded it as a 12th century Roman carving. We were able to climb up the altar and hold her hand that extends a globe. The other hand holds Jesus Christ. The view from the top is equally magnificent and offers opportunities for hiking and meditation.
Located in Barcelona, Spain
A century long construction of this piece of art by Antoni Gaudi is still in progress. Regardless, it is already astounding to see the intricacies of the carvings that wraps the facade of the Basilica. The inside is like being in a forest with giant tree trunks of different sizes which was intentionally design to carry the weight of the spires and ceiling of this magnificent structure. I admire Gaudi as a true evangelist telling the world the story of the life of Jesus on earth through his arts.
Located in Knock, Ireland
The site of our Marian apparition in August of 1878. The apparition scene is consist of a lamb under a cross hovered by angels, Our Lady, St Joseph, St. John the Evangelist appeared and was witnessed by 14 people of all ages walks of life. At this time, Ireland is in the midst of depression and they were given hope by this apparition. The feast day is celebrated annually on August 21 where thousands of pilgrims from all over the world pay homage at this sanctuary.
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