Green Faith Travels brings pilgrims to three Jubilee of Mercy churches in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan for the group’s fifth Marian Pilgrimage in Pangasinan, on Saturday, Oct. 22.
As Catholics all over the world observe the Year of Mercy, Marian devotees will pray, enter and be blessed at the Holy Door of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist in Dagupan City, and Co-Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Lingayen during the pilgrimage.
They will also give thanks and seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother for their petitions and needs at Our Lady of the Purification Parish in Binmaley.
‘Special Bond of Spiritual Affinity’
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, elevated as a Minor Basilica in February last year, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Apostle and the Evangelist were granted the “Special Bond of Spiritual Affinity” in April 2011 and February 2012, respectively, by the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for the Shrine and Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls for the Cathedral.
Oldest church in Pangasinan
For the first time, pilgrims will pray at the Co-Cathedral of the Epiphany of the Lord in Lingayen.
Established in 1587, the adobe structure with an oriental pagoda-like bell tower is one of the two oldest churches in Pangasinan.
Its title as Co-Cathedral was mandated by the Holy See as the church was the first Seat of the Diocese of Lingayen when this ecclesiastical jurisdiction was created on May 19, 1928. Thus, it is the “twin cathedral” of St. John the Evangelist, the present seat of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
Due to the destruction by liberation forces during World War II, the seat of the diocese in Lingayen was transferred to Dagupan and the name of the See was changed to Lingayen-Dagupan on Feb. 11, 1954. It became an archdiocese in 1963.
Catholic apostolate
Green Faith Travels is a noncommercial Catholic apostolate organizing pilgrimages and spiritual travels.
Pilgrimage fee of P3,000 per person covers round-trip transport via air-conditioned tourist bus, breakfast, lunch and two snacks, water and juice packs, pilgrim’s kit and church donations. Payment deadline is on Friday, Sept. 30.
Call 0926-6152596; e-mail greenfaithtravels@gmail.com or greenfaithtravels@yahoo.com; visit www.facebook.com/greenfaithtravels.