Hello, fellow pilgrims!

Have you also thought of completing the pilgrimage to the holy doors of mercy, but don’t know how? Are you having trouble figuring out how to move from one Church to another without spending a fortune? Worry no more! We’re here to help you solve that problem by sharing our own journey with you. Guess what? We spent only a total of P300 per head for the whole trip. That already includes transportation expense, lunch, bottles of water, snack and donations in the various Churches, as part of the corporal works of mercy.

One of the concerns we had for the pilgrimage was where to avail the sacrament of reconciliation. To solve the problem, a Jesuit priest from the JM Lucas infirmary in Ateneo de Manila University was requested to hear our confessions before we begin our pilgrimage. That makes Katipunan our starting point. We decided then to visit the Churches in the following order and ride the corresponding modes of transportation:

1.  Manila Cathedral

o  Take the LRT2 from Katipunan to Recto (P22).

o  From Recto station, go down and walk towards JP Rizal, which is located under LRT1. Make sure you cross the road.

o  Ride a jeep with the sign, “Pier 15” (P7). Get down at Manila Cathedral.

2.  Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

o  From Manila Cathedral, walk to LRT1 Central Station. Take the LRT1 from Central to Gil Puyat Station (P16).

o  Take the jeep with the “Evangelista” sign (P7). Get down at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

3.  National Shrine of the Sacred Heart

o  Walk from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish to Buendia. Take a jeep with PRC sign (P7). Get down at Binigtican Street in front of 7 Eleven.

o  Walk three blocks towards National Shrine of the Sacred Heart 

4.  Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy

o  From National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, walk towards Buendia Avenue.

o  Take Bus B or C to Boni station (P20). Get down at Boni along EDSA.

o  Walk towards MRT Boni station and cross to the other side. Walk towards the market.

o  Take the jeep bound for Stop & Shop. Tell the driver to drop you off at Maysilo Circle Divine Mercy Church (P7).

5.  Sanctuario de Santo Cristo Parish

o  From Divine Mercy Shrine, take the jeepney bound for Stop & Shop. Alight at Kalentong (P7).

o  From Kalentong, take the jeepney going to Blumentritt (P7). Alight at Sanctuario de Santo Cristo Parish, which is adjacent to Aquinas School.

To return to LRT 2, walk from Sanctuario de Santo Cristo Parish to Kalentong. Take the jeep going to Quiapo or Divisoria. Alight at LRT 2 Pureza station (P9).

We tried to catch up for the 6 pm Mass at the Jesuit infirmary, but the traffic did not permit us to do so. We just decided to end our pilgrimage with the Regina Coeli as thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother for leading us closer to her son. Since we were riding a jeep then, we decided to recite it in English so as not to scandalize the other passengers with the Latin version. The pilgrimage does not necessarily need to end the way ours did. Everyone is free to be creative here and there. God isn’t a rigid God. He does not hold it against us if we fail to follow the passport instructions to the last letter. It’s the disposition of our hearts that matter. Enjoy the journey with the Lord and with your community. It’s a magical experience! You’ll never get out the same way again.

Community Guide

Sherwin Santos

Community Members

Dick-Jay Bustamante

Ybonne Chua

Mark Leosala

Martha Davila

Leatriz Ongsamson

Martin Rodriguez

Ross Fortunado

With special participation of:

Francisco Machado

Romana Domingo

Lhandz Portezo