International Eucharistic Congress pilgrims from Hawaii pose for a photo at the LaSalette Shrine in Manila. In the front row, from left, Ursula Tactay, Paula Hall, Maria Ramilo, Elvira Espiritu, Roy Quindara, Nicetas Quindara, Josefina Rillamas, Juanita Mauricio, Sally Castillo. Second row, from left, Lee Rivera, Father Elias Escanilla, Phyllis Malasig, Belinda Galinato, Luz Gomez, Emiliana Ibarra, Anacleta Agsalog, Erlinda Ricafrente, Teofilo Mauricio, Irene Sandry, Arsenia Mauricio. In back, La Saletter Father Efren Tomas, Dione Fernandez. Missing are Angel Legaspi, Corazon Legaspi, Lorraine Glory and Irineo Mauricio. (Photo courtesy of Lee Rivera)
By Lee Rivera
Special to the Herald
Wow! What an amazing pilgrimage! The journey of 26 parishioners from St. Joseph Parish, Waipahu and Sacred Heart Parish, Hawi, to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, Philippines, began Jan. 22 with a 10-hour plane ride to Manila. We were blessed to have Bishop Larry Silva, who was traveling with another Hawaii group of 13, sitting with us. An additional group of seven from Maui traveled separately.
After a couple hours layover we were on another plane to Iloilo City to attend a religious and cultural festival called Dinagyany honoring Santo Nino (the baby Jesus) and celebrating the arrival on Panay of the Malay Settlers.
We then took a day trip by bus to Caticlan after which we boarded a boat for Boracay Island where the sands were as white as snow and felt like powder. We spent a day relaxing and touring some of the beaches before returning to Caticlan and on to Cebu City on Jan. 24 for the week-long Eucharistic Congress.
There were thousands in attendance. Many awesome speakers gave testimonies about real life challenges. Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle gave a presentation on “The Eucharist and the Dialogue with Culture.” It was an amazing eye opener about returning to our culture and especially spending quality time with family.
After the Friday afternoon Holy Eucharist, an estimated 1.5 million people carrying lit candles joined in the procession from Cebu Capitol Building to Plaza Independencia. At the closing Mass on Saturday, a breathtaking sunset provided the backdrop for 5,000 people — mostly children, some teenagers and some adults — receiving their first Holy Communion. The celebrant for this Mass, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vival, received his first Holy Communion at the first Eucharistic Congress held in the Philippines in 1937.
The awesome entertainment honoring Santo Nino after the Jan. 31 closing Mass seemed endless. It was upbeat and very colorful. On the day after the congress, we took a 45-minute boat ride to Bohol Island to visit the Famous Chocolate Hills and see the Tarsier, believed to be the world’s smallest monkey.
It was then on to Manila for the final leg of this awesome journey. We visited the LaSalette Shrine where two priests who had served in Hawaii are now retired. Our tour leader Father Efren Tomas celebrated Mass and we toured the shrine grounds. On our last day, we went to Pangasinan to visit the sister church of St. Joseph Church, Waipahu. Father Efren again celebrated Mass and lunch was provided by parishioners.
On our way back to Manila, we were blessed with the opportunity to visit Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, a pilgrimage town. Every Saturday and Sunday, thousands of people converge here for Mass, to pray the rosary, to offer flowers and light candles.
We didn’t head back to Hawaii before hitting the Mall of Asia, the biggest shopping mall in Asia.
The next International Eucharistic Congress will be in four years in Budapest. Any takers?
Lee Rivera is the parish reporter from Sacred Heart Parish in Hawi on the Big Island.
