This year, it was merely sister dearest and I who did our traditional Visita Iglesia of 7 churches. We visited churches within the Mandaluyong and San Juan areas and some churches located in Quezon City, yet in close proximity to San Juan. The altars of repose in different churches are open for veneration from 8 PM until midnight during Maundy Thursdays.
(1) St. Francis of Assisi, Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong - the parish closest to our former residence in the 1980s - 1990s where our family used to hear mass.
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| Main entrance of St. Francis Parish |
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| The altar of repose at St. Francis |
(2) National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace - Edsa Shrine, QC - this is where I got married in 2008, not the main church but at small adjacent Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
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| Edsa Shrine |
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| The altar of repose at the Edsa Shrine |
(3) Mary the Queen Parish, San Juan - A couple of years ago, we discovered this parish when it showed up on the Waze app. This lovely edifice is located near ICA (Immaculate Conception Academy) and Xavier School.
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| The altar of repose at Mary the Queen Parish |
(4) Sanctuario de San Jose, Greenhills East Village, Mandaluyong - first time to set foot in this lovely church located within an exclusive subdivision.
(5) Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Broadway QC - Another church which we frequented during our childhood years. I noticed that it is easier this year to make the rounds of churches because there were fewer cars on the road, perhaps due to the high gas prices and this oil crisis. This church is huge but this is the first time we managed to park right in front of its entrance.
The altar of repose at Mount Carmel church was located in a tiny hallway adjacent to the main church. It was solemn though but there were very few seats and pews for kneeling and praying.
(6) Carmel of St Therese of the Child Jesus in Gilmore, QC - we accidentally discovered this monastery a few years ago when its gates were open for Visita Iglesia. Normally it is always closed.
At first I couldn't find the altar of repose until sister dearest pointed it out to me. It was located at the left side of the altar and it was enclosed. One of the simplest yet very solemn altars of repose we visited that night.
(7) Sanctuario del Sto. Cristo in San Juan - when we were studying in high school at St. John's Academy, our aunt (mommy's elder sister) would pick us up from our house in Mandaluyong. Her driver would drop her off at this church every day and then take us to our school.
