Miracles at Divine Mercy Hills

EL SALVADOR CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines â€“ Religious miracles can be either way, “to-see-is-to-believe” or “believe-and-you-will-see.” Either way, believers are mystified, especially the Christian faithful.

Some people may find it hard to believe, but miracles have reportedly happened at the vicinity of the Divine Mercy Hills in this city where the colossal Divine Mercy (Jesus Christ) statue stands. These “miracles” have even been photographed.

Claims of supernatural occurrences are circulating, such as “The Dancing Sun,” “The Burning Bush,” “The Star of David,” or “The Chalice,” among others.

The following accounts are printed in posters, with matching photographs:

“Holy Trinity. On August 30, 2007, around 5:30 a.m. on the same day of The Burning Bush, another miracle took place witnessed by many. The miracle of The Dancing Sun. Mr. Henry Adcede, a pilgim from abroad, took a picture using his cellphone. After taking the shot, he noticed two other shining round objects, smaller than the sun.”

“Star of David. This was taken on August 25, 2004 at around 1 p.m. by Mr. Mike Dial, balikbayan from Sacramento, California. Mike saw the flash of light like a bright morning star moving around the vicinity of the Divine Mercy Hills. It stopped above the spot where the Divine Mercy  statue is now standing. It was revealed in a vision that the bright morning star is the one protecting the place which is a holy ground.”

“The Chalice. Aloha B. De Torres from Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, a balikbayan nurse from Saudi Arabia, visited the Divine Mercy Hills on September 30, 2007, a week before she was to return to Saudi Arabia. After attending the 3 p.m. holy mass, she had her pictures taken at the second level [of the chapel] with the setting sun at the background. The sun rays form into a pattern of circular rays (like hosts) around a chalice, symbolic of the Holy Eucharist.”

The messages are found in a tarpaulin posted near the chapel, where it can be easily noticed by visitors. As of this writing, the church authorities have not confirmed if the apparition-like phenomena are the work of the heavens.

The management of Divine Mercy Hills requires conservative and modest attire of those visiting the place. In scaling the hill with hundreds of steps that lead up to the giant statue and chapel, long dress is prescribed for women. Shorts or sleeveless shirts for both men and women are not allowed. Long dresses or wrap-arounds of plain color are provided for women to hide the pants or shorts, in case they come uninformed of the dress code, and even for men who come in shorts. These are provided without charges.

The Divine Mercy Hills is situated between two barangays in this new city, about 30 kilometers east of Cagayan de Oro City, capital of Misamis Oriental province. At the top of the hills stands the colossal 50-foot Divine Mercy statue, considered the tallest on the entire island, overlooking the Macajalar Bay of northern Mindanao. The structure has two giant rays on its sides that look like a stairway to heaven and by which visitors can go up to view the panoramic surroundings and come face-to-face with the giant figure of Jesus Christ.

The Divine Mercy Hills has sprawling flower gardens in its 11-hectare area. These lend magnificence to the giant Divine Mercy statue. The place is the project of the Divine Mercy Foundation, in line with its advocacies, namely evangelization, healing program, community formation, and works of mercy.

A brochure of the place reads: “The Divine Mercy Shrine is a place where the message of God’s merciful love is unceasingly proclaimed. It is a place of prayer, healing, repentance and conversion. It is a place of refuge for the whole world. It is everybody’s place for celebrating the Holy Eucharist. It is God’s gift to our time.”

Various facilities are in place, including parking space for vehicles, retreat house, dormitory, healing center, chapel, life-sized statues of Stations of the Cross, botanical garden and Rosary hill, open amphitheatre, food court and coffee shop, picnic areas, porticos of St. Michael and St. Rafael, Biblical museum etc. Visiting PWDs (persons with disabilities) are provided with mini-shuttle, wheel chairs, healing bath, and other services.

The Divine Mercy Hills is drawing devotees from far and near. During Holy Week especially and on their feast day on the Sunday following Easter, people come in thousands. The place is run by the Divine Mercy Foundation of Mindanao (Phils.) Inc., and duly registered with Securities and Exchange Commission.