Manila – For the “Year of Faith,” the Guanellian family went on a series of pilgrimage during May and June.
The first pilgrimage was on May 29th. The residents, staffs and volunteers of Guanella Home joined Fr. Charlton Viray, staff of the Guanella Center, and other members of the Guanellian community on a journey to the province of Bulacan for the Year of Faith pilgrimage. They left at around nine o’clock in the morning traveling first to Our Lady of Guadalupe. There they prayed the rosary and enjoyed lunch. The next church they visited was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Barasoain Church, famous for being the Philippines’ most important religious building. Here they finished praying the rosary. The day ended with their return to the Servants of Charity compound around five. The day-long event allowed everyone to come in closer contact with God, more time to pray. As Maria Luisa Sumaoang, Guanella Home volunteer, said, “Have faith!”
On June 29th, the group again went on pilgrimage for the Year of Faith to intensify their relationship with God. The pilgrimage began with a mass at the Servants of Charity compound presided by Fr. Vincent Selveraj. Their first destinations were churches in the province of Bulacan. The first stop was the Divine Mercy Shrine, the second Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish or Barasoain Church, and finally the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Malolos Cathedral. Lunch followed to reenergize the faithful as the whole day event continued. They travelled next to the province of Pampanga to see the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando City, San Guillermo Parish Church, the Parish Church of St. James the Apostle (or Betis Church), and the Immaculate Conception Church in Guagua. The Rosary was prayed in each church to deepen each one’s desire to be more faithful. Personal reflections by the seminarians and lay cooperators also helped to intensify the atmosphere of prayer. The pilgrims returned to the Servants of Charity compound around eight that evening.
According to Fr. Charlton Viray, the Year of Faith pilgrimages were conducted as directed by the Generalate and also by the parish where the Guanellian community is located. The pilgrimages were done in the hope of renewing and deepening the faith of the Guanellian community.
Servants of Charity 