Seven Churches for Visita Iglesia in Quezon Province

Catholics have a ritual known as the Visita Iglesia, also known as the seven churches visitation, on Maundy Thursday, when they visit at least seven different churches in succession. To avoid disturbing the masses, the visits are frequently made at times when there are no masses planned, such as in the afternoon or at night. When it comes to which churches to attend, there are no set guidelines.

But if you would like to grab the opportunity to have an out of town travel as well, since most part of the country is already on Alert Level 1, Quezon Province is a great place to do your Visita Iglesia this coming Holy Week.

There are two dioceses and one prelature in the province of Quezon since it is so large: the Diocese of Lucena covers the southern portion, the Diocese of Gumaca covers the eastern portion, and the Prelature of Infanta covers the whole province of Aurora as well as the northern part of the province.

If you are from Manila, the most convenient churches to visit are the ones under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Lucena. On the other hand, the Diocese of Gumaca is a bit far from the city and no longer feasible for day trips. However, if you're going to Bicolandia, it would be wonderful if you stopped by any of the churches along the road.

Below are some of the must visit churches in the Province of Quezon:

San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church (Lucban)

In 1578, the chapel of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa became a parish, and in 1595 it became the first church constructed entirely of wood in the Province of Quezon. It has the name of Saint Louis of Toulouse on it. Stone and nipa were used to rebuild the structure in 1630, but it was destroyed by fire in 1733. In 1743, it was completely restored, and when the American soldiers captured Lucban in 1945, it was only slightly damaged.

Typhoon Glenda, which hit the Philippines in 2014, ripped off the roof above the altar, allowing water to flood inside. In spite of this, the church has endured up to this day.

The San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church or Lucban Church is located at A. Racelis Ave, Lucban, 4328 Quezon.

Saint John the Baptist Parish Church (Tiaong)

Located in the heart of the city, this is one of the most recognizable sights in the area because of its striking pink coloration.

The only thing that is known about the church's history is that the St. John the Baptist image is claimed to have appeared there on a few occasions. The original site of Tiaong is really 4 miles south of its current one, but numerous pirate raids persuaded the residents that the sightings were a signal to relocate.

The town of Tiaong was once part of San Pablo, Laguna, but it became a municipality in 1961 thanks to the efforts of a woman known as "Donya Tating."

St. John the Baptist Parish Church is located in Tiaong, Quezon.

Saint Francis of Assisi Church (Sariaya)

Built in 1599, the church has been damaged by natural calamities and has to be rebuilt multiple times throughout the ages. When an earthquake struck in 1743, as well as Moros attacked, the church was forced to move to higher ground on the slopes of Mt. Banahaw since it was no longer safe in its previous position, which is now where Sariaya sits.

All the residents of the town followed when the church was transferred into a new location. The current church was constructed in 1748 and has been standing ever since. When the town of Lumang Bayan, presently known as Sariaya, was destroyed in 1743, the Sto. Cristo de Burgos image—a gift from King Felipe V to Lumang Bayan's residents—survived in its entirety, which was hailed as a miraculous event. A Retablo or a devotional painting serves as its permanent home these days.

Saint Francis of Assisi Church is located at General Luna Street, Maharlika Highway 4322 Sariaya, Quezon.

Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel (Tayabas)

The Tayabas Basilica is well recognized as an example of Baroque architecture in the form of a Key. As a matter fact, the church is also being called the Key of Tayabas becuase of it.

The Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel is a National Cultural Treasure of the National Museum of the Philippines and one of the country's most magnificent churches. The first church that could be found in Tayabas was constructed using nipa, anahaw, and bamboo in the year 1580 by the Franciscan friars. Meanwhile, San Pedro Bautista oversaw the restoration work in 1590, and the church was given permission by the Spanish government to reconstruct it in stone.

When the building was completed in 1600, it was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1743. In 1856, it was reconstructed and enlarged. The church is also historical as Filipino insurgents commanded by Vicente Lukban surrendered to the Spanish at the church's patio on August 13th, 1898.

In 1988, the church was designated by Pope John Paul II as a minor basilica.

The Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel is located at Lopez Jaena Street, Tayabas, 4327 Quezon.

Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolores)

Our Lady of Sorrows' miraculous image adorns the Diocesan Shrine in Dolores, which has become a tourist attraction in and of itself. In this place, many people come to have their hopes and prayers granted.

For Our Lady of Sorrows, "Pangkuan" was held every Friday at the Shrine, when Roman Catholic devotees would gather to offer their prayers and devotion to the Lady. An annual festival known as "Viernes De Dolores" concludes with a parade known as "Turumba" after the devotees attend mass.

The Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows is located in Dolores, Quezon.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church (Pagbilao)

Also called Pagbilao Church, the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church began as a cogon-and-bamboo structure, built in 1688, in the barangay of Binahaan and moved to its current position in 1730, which is considered an unlucky omen, according to local legend.

It was then reconstructed in stone in 1845 and the convent was added in 1877 when the church had outgrown its original location in a nearby town. The bell tower was the only section of the building unharmed after it was attacked by Americans in 1945 during the Liberation of the building. In 1954, the church was reconstructed, although much of the original style was altered. Plaster, according to some, obscured the characteristic adobe bricks used in the initial construction of the stone church, which are still visible in the bell tower.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church is located in Pagbilao, Quezon.

Our Lady of the Angels (Atimonan)

When the Dutch set fire to Atimonan Parish Church in 1640, they rebuilt it using stone instead of wood, only to have it partly damaged by a fire in 1648 and completely demolished by an earthquake two years later, according to historical records.

Once again, the third church was devastated by an earthquake in 1937 after being restored between 1687 and 1701. These days, Our Lady of the Angels Church stands in front of the Iskong Bantay monument, the last of the pirate-defending fortifications in the area.

Our Lady of the Angels Church is located at Manuel L. Quezon St, Atimonan, Quezon.

Other beautiful churches that you might want to include in your Quezon Visita Iglesia:

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Plaridel)

It is a new church that was erected beside a train track. You can also have here the Stations of the Cross.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is located in Plaridel, Quezon.

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Shrine (Lucban)

Fr. Joey Faller, a Healing Priest, leads pilgrimages to Kamay Ni Hesus on a regular basis. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Quezon City and the Philippines as a whole. The Via Dolorosa, which is located on a hill, has a 50-foot picture of the risen Christ. During Holy Week, the number of people making the trek to touch the figure of the Risen Christ might make the trip up the hill take up to two hours.

The Kamay ni Hesus Healing Shrine is located at Lucban - Tayabas Rd, Lucban, Quezon Province.

Many of the country's oldest churches may be found in Quezon, and some of them have fascinating histories. On both religious and historical reasons, these churches may be worth a visit for your pilgrimage.

To complete your travel experience in Quezon this Holy Week, don't also forget to try some of their local dishes such as pancit habhab, budin, Lucban longganisa, and puto bao.

Visiting the Quezon Province is also made faster and more convenient these days with the various infrastructure projects being built in the province such as the Sariaya Bypass Road and the Tayabas Bypass Road.

You can also make your Visita Iglesia in Quezon every year much easier when you have a home or a vacation house in the province. This can now be smoothly achieved through Lumina Homes line of subdivisions in the Province of Quezon like Lumina Sariaya and Lumina Quezon.

Lumina Homes house and lot packages can be paid through flexible payment scheme such as bank financing to ease your burden in paying for your home investment. Get the convenience that you deserve by having a home investment in Quezon through Lumina Homes.