Our Lady of the Queen of Peace Retreat House, La Union

Our retreat last October 24-28, 2011 in La Union was a magnificent display of nature. The most outstanding scenery was the sunset. I have never seen a wonderful sunset like this in my life. The retreat house was located on top of a hill and it gives a very wonderful picture of it. We even played around with the sun as you can see in the picture. 

I'm not actually a lover of flowers but their colors seem to attract my attention and take a snap shout on them.
Before I forget, the name of the retreat house is Our Lady of the Queen of Peace Retreat House. It is also a priory since old nuns of the benedictines stay there.As to what I heard they are independent from the Order of Saint Benedict but they can still carry the title OSB in their names.

Holy Angels Parish, Damortis, La Union

On October 28, 2011 - We were guided by a benedictine nun, who was assigned in the retreat house of where we stayed for five days with them. She was so hospitable that she even lead the way going to Agoo, La Union. Before going to Agoo, we first visited their parish in Damortis. We were then introduced to the parish priest, who warmly greeted us together with a teacher from a nearby school.

Nuestra Señora Virgin del Marcautiva is an image
and devotion to the Our Lady enshrined
in the Holy Angels Parish.

The facade of the Holy Angels Parish in Damortis, La Union.

Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, Pangasinan

The facade of the Shrine of the
Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

October 28, 2011- The Shrine of the Our Lady of Manaoag is one of famous churches in the Philippines that thousands of pilgrims and devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary flock into this church annually. It is where the miraculous image of the Our Lady is protected and taken care by the Dominican Fathers. We also grabbed the opportunity to visit, see and touch this image and church in Northern Luzon.

We were lucky during our visit since there were only few devotees and pilgrims, who paid a visit at the moment. The line going to the image of the Our Lady for us to touch was only short. We did not have to line and wait a long time before reaching the image during Saturdays and her feast week. 

Devotees trying to reach a part of the image
of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a sign of
deeper longing to reach out her through arduous prayers. 

I bought an image of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a remembrance to this place since it is very rare for us to visit the north. I was not suppose to buy one since I have no more money but the sentimental value of the image that I will buy in the place itself would mean a lot. My conscience tells me to consider that it is only a once in a lifetime experience and I might not be able to visit again the church and the Our Lady. So I lend 100.00 pesos from my good friend Pocholo.

That's me in the picture in front of the
Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag.

I also offered my personal prayers to Mary to intercede to the Father to grant my petitions in life. I do believe that Mary is our intercessor to the Father as it was shown to us when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana. The has not yet come supposedly but since it was his mother's request he granted her wish. I hope and pray that she will also intercede and be the instrument so that God ma answer and hopes and dreams in life.

St. Monica Parish, Agoo, La Union

Me, Jasper and Wendell in front of the altar of the Church.

October 28, 2011 - After our five day retreat in the wonderful place of Queen of Peace Retreat House in Damortis, La Union, we don't want to miss the opportunity of visiting known churches in the northern Luzon. It is like, we are trying to hit two birds in one stone. And, our expectation ended in a wonderful and magnificent visit to one of the legacies of the Augustinians in the Philippines. As an Augustinian, it is closer to our heart since most of the churches that were built here were spearheaded and administered by our forefathers. One of it is the Parish of St. Monica in Agoo or also known as the Basilica Minore of the Our Lady of Charity. This Church was originally founded by the Franciscans in 1578. It was administered first by them from 1578-1591 and then eventually was turned over to the Augustinians in 1598 and until the time of the last Augustinian Friar, Fr. Jose Torres, OSA in 1898.

The logo of the Order of
St. Augustine is meticulously
carved in one of the pillars
of the church.  

The church has a dome and very wide place for the faithful to pray. Its decors and art are likely modernized as part of the constant renovations of the church. I am still thankful that the people of Agoo still recognized the value of the presence of the Augustinians in their place by still putting and carving the logo of the order in one of its pillars. (see picture). 

The church is indeed an Augustinian since its patron is St. Monica, the mother of the spiritual founder of the Order of St. Augustine. The was administered by at least three major order of the Catholic Church before it was turned over to the secular priests, namely, Franciscans, Augustinians and Dominicans. The Augustinians have the most number of years served in this parish. In the records of the parish priests of the church, it was only once administered by the dominican, Fr. Francisco Fabie. 

We also visited the museum of the parish, which is just in the left side of the church.

Us, in front of the facade of the church.

The facade of the church but unfortunately the belfry
did not fit in the picture. 

On the background is the patron of the church in
 Agoo, La Union, St. Monica.