When we were at the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine in Lucban, Quezon, built by healing priest Fr. Joey Faller from donations, last All Souls/Saints Day, it was continuously raining so we did not, unlike in our previous visits, climb the 295 steps to the Risen Christ Statue which overlooks the sprawling grotto that houses a chapel where Fr. Joey holds his healing Masses (on the concrete blocks at the churchyard are engraved the names of donors who claim to have been healed by Fr. Joey), Station of the Cross, a social hall (next to it is the dorm), retreat rooms and, the newest attraction, Noah’s Ark.
Trivia from Dr. Welson Yap, a good friend of Fr. Joey: The 60-feet tall Risen Christ Statue is the third tallest in the world (it took six horses to haul it to the top of the mountain), following those in Brazil (first at 150 feet) and in Bolivia (second at 70 feet).
“It’s brand-new,” said Fr. Angie as he took us on a quick tour of the 24-room, two-storey Noah’s Ark.
It did smell new, having had a soft opening only a week earlier when we were there. In front of the Ark are concrete replicas of the pairs of animals that were in it during the Great Deluge.
Each room has a homey ambience, so quiet that you can hear your heart beat and listen to your innermost thoughts, just perfect for soul-searching. Weather at the grotto is cool, so you can sleep with the windows open for that soothing evening breeze, but if you don’t feel safe enough, you can lock the windows and turn the aircon on. Rates are reasonable.
“Those at the original Ark must have felt safe and secure inside,” we told Fr. Angie.
Because that’s how we felt inside the Noah’s Ark at Kamay ni Hesus.
Someday, I told Fr. Angie, I will sleep in Noah’s Ark.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)