CEBU, Philippines- In preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 which will be hosted by Cebu, a Visita Iglesia dry-run will be done this coming Holy Thursday, April 2.
The local secretariat has announced the participating churches for the one-day pilgrimage while doing the Station of the Cross and meditation a day before Good Friday, which remembers the death of Jesus Christ.
The seven churches chosen as the IEC official Visita Iglesia route included the Our Lady of Sacred Heart parish in Escario, Asilo dela Medalla Milagrosa, Redemptorist Parish, Sacred Heart parish in Jakosalem, Sto. Rosario in P. Del Rosario, Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino de Cebu, and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Especially prepared prayers and songs await the devotees who may opt to take the seven-church route or stay in one of the churches.
Cebu Archdiocese officials have coordinated with City Traffic Operations Management and Philippine National Police for traffic management and security measures, respectively.
Churches start to open at 7:30 in the morning for those who would wish to start early.
Devotees are advised to help the church keep the sanctity of the activity by dressing appropriately, minimizing unnecessary noise so that a meditative, prayerful environment is achieved as the nation remembers the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
An assessment will be done after the dry-run to improve the Visita Iglesia activity design. (FREEMAN)