Pilgrims troop to John Paul II's replica house in Bulacan

MARILAO, Bulacan, Philippines  – Pilgrims had been trooping everyday to this town to visit the replica of the house of the late Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified today.

The replica house is located inside the five hectare compound of the Parish of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy at Barangay Sta. Rosa I here.

It stands beside the chapel dedicated for St. Faustina, the nun who first started the devotion to the Divine Mercy in Poland which was prohibited in the early days, but was later recognized by the late Pope, a contemporary of the saint.

Father Vicente Robles, the founder of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, said that the replica house was established shortly after the death of the Pope in April 1, 2005.

He said the house was meant to educate the public on the life of the late Pope and to further promote devotion to the Divine Mercy.

The upper part of the replica house and its facade was inspired by his twin visit to the Pope’s house in Wadowice, Poland where he grew up. It is about 20 feet long and seven feet wide.

Displayed inside are framed reproduced photographs of the late Pope from his childhood to his death in 2005.

The lower part or basement was inspired by the basement of a house in Krakow, also in Poland, where the young Karol Wotyla hid and prayed during World War II.

At the basement, more frame photographs of the late Pope and his family are on display along with a brief biography.

Jun de Jesus, a lay administrator of the shrine’s facilities, said the basement of the replica house has a natural connection to where it is built now.

It used to be part of a lot owned by San Juan family here but was later sold to the shrine.

“The part was used to be a small water impounding area of the San Juan family who curved on the adobe stone, so when the replica house was built on top of it, it was already there,” De Jesus said.

He said that the same water impounding area was used by the San Juan’s as a hiding place during the World War II.

Outside the replica house is a statue of the late Pope, which used to stand at the center of an amphitheater, some 20 meters in front of the house.

According to pilgrims, the whole set up of the replica house gives a feeling that it is sacred.

Jaime Corpuz, a book writer and local historian, said he always feel the serenity when standing in front of the replica house.

He said he always imagine at the basement how the young Karol Wotyla would pray while hiding from Nazi soldiers rounding up young men during the second World War in Poland.

“I don’t usually go there, but when I go, I can feel it’s holy,” Jocelyn Clemente, a native of this town, said.

The pilgrims came from Metro Manila and other nearby places.