Worshipers out for Visita Iglesia in Cavite

GENERAL TRIAS CITY — It's Lenten season once again, an opportune time for the Catholic faithful to recharge, reflect and reconnect.

ONE FOR VISITA IGLESIA This is St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church — also known as San Francisco de Malabon Parish Church, and commonly known as General Trias Church. It is the first Roman Catholic parish church of General Trias in Cavite and is one of the favorite churches being visited by worshipers during Visita Iglesia, an old tradition among devotees, which highlights the observance of Holy Week. PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA

One of the practices during Holy week is the so-called Visita Iglesia (church visit), a longtime tradition wherein the worshipers in droves visit at least seven churches of their choices.

In Cavite, as in other provinces, worshipers flock to various churches across the province to observe the Visita Iglesia tradition.

Among the churches in Cavite that are frequented by worshipers for the Visita Iglesia are St. Michael, the Archangel Church in Poblacion, Bacoor City; Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Kawit, Cavite; the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Kawit, Cavite; the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar-Imus Cathedral in Imus, Cavite; Nuestra Señora de Porta Vaga in Cavite City; San Francisco de Asis of General Trias; San Augustine Church of Tanza and the Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Naic and Dasmariñas City; Our Lady of Assumption in Maragondon; Sto. Nin̈o de Ternate; St. Gregory the Great of Indang; St. John Nepomucene of Alfonso; Nuestra Señora de Candelaria of Silang town; and Our Lady of Lourdes of Tagaytay City.

The solemn tradition allows participants to reflect on the Stations of the Cross and offer prayers for intentions dear to their hearts.

Expected to have minimal foot traffic in the sacred spaces, vehicular traffic in the areas are expected to remain light to moderate, allowing worshipers to navigate between churches smoothly.

Each church has also posted activity schedules on their respective social media pages to guide devotees from Araw ng Palapas (Palm Sunday), a Sunday, April 13, to April 20, Easter Sunday, to provide worshipers with ample opportunities to participate in the liturgical celebrations of the Triduum.

Palm Sunday is the Christian movable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. It marks the start of the Holy Week and the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.

On this noteworthy account in the Bible (Matthew 21:8-10), worshipers placed their cloths, tree branches and still many waved anything they held to greet and honor Jesus Christ as he entered the city.