Pilgrimage Tour of Pampanga Old Churches
PAMPANGA VISITA IGLESIA WITH HERITAGE AND CULTURAL TOUR
ITINERARY
7:00 am – Departure from Manila
DESTINATIONS:
8:30am
1. Angeles: Sto. Rosario Church
2. Tour of Museo Angeles and breakfast
(Batirol, Putung Babi, Tamales)
3. Angeles: Apung Mamacalulu (Santo Entierro)
4. Carmelite
10:30am
5. Bacolor: San Guillermo de Aquitania Church
11:15am
6. Betis: Santiago Mayor Church
12:15pm
Floridablanca: Lunch at Bariotic Restaurant (Buffet Lunch)
1:45pm
7. Floridablanca: San Jose Obrero Church
2:30pm
8. Lubao: San Agustin de Hipona Church
3:15pm
9. Sasmuan: Santa Lucia Parish Church (Miraculous)
- Merienda/snacks (Ginilu, Pansit Luglug, Suman)
4:30pm
10. Sta. Rita: Sta Rita de Casia Church
Religious Museum
5:30pm
Shopping – Sta. Rita Factories of Turones and Chicharon
6:30pm
Back to Manila
PILGRIM’S PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, You were a pilgrim here on earth. In the
same way, we ask your guidance, as you lead us in this pilgrimage to the nine
Churches. As we follow in your steps, we ask the grace to keep our eyes on
you. Open our hearts that we may find you, not only in these churches, but in
your people and each other. Give us the spirit of prayer and may our pilgrimage
lead us to an inward journey with your Divine Presence and grace. Our
Father..../ Hail Mary ...../ Glory be.... Amen. Our Lady of the Way, Pray for us.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DESTINATIONS (Nine Churches)
STO. ROSARIO CHURCH, ANGELES - perhaps the most imposing and most
recognizable landmark of Angeles City with its familiar double bell towers and its ancient,
symmetrical Romanesque façade. Construction started in 1860 and completely done
twenty years later. “Discover the secrets and stories of the church”
APUNG MAMACALULU (SANTO ENTIERRO), ANGELES – a statue depicting the
burial of Jesus Christ and is enshrined at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Christ our Lord of
the Holy Sepulchre.
SAN GUILLERMO DE AQUITANIA CHUCH, BACOLOR - In 1880, the church was
destroyed by an earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On
September 3, 1995, lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo which erupted into world
notice on June 15, 1991, buried the church at half its 12-m height prompting its more than
50,000 town residents to evacuate to safer grounds in resettlement areas.
SANTIAGO MAYOR APOSTOL CHURCH, BETIS – The interior of the church offers
a “virtual catechism” from its heavily carved wooden doors, to carving and accents and a
rich and colorful imagery of paintings on its altar, walls and ceiling. Dubbed as the Sistine
Chapel of the Philippines.
SAN JOSE OBRERO CHURCH, FLORIDABLANCA – ALSO KNOWN AS THE
FLORIDABLANCA CHURCH. Is a 19th Century Neo-Gothic Church located at Barangay
Poblacion. The parish church is under the aegis of Saint Nicolas of Tolentino which is
currently under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando.
SAN AGUSTIN DE HIPONA CHURCH, LUBAO – Regarded as the mother of all
Augustinian built churches in Pampanga. First class relics of St. Augustine and his mother
St. Monica are housed in a special chapel located on the right of the narthex. Declared an
Important Cultural Property (ICP) by the National Museum in 2013
THE SANTA LUCIA PARISH CHURCH, SASMUAN is the first church in the
province built by Augustinian priests. It stands right beside the Río Grande, the ancient
waterway that connected Pampanga to Manila Bay. The structure is said to have been
built by Jose Duque in the 17th century. It was rebuilt in early 1800 and was reinforced by
Toribio Fanjul in 1884. First class relic of Sta. Lucia is enshrined in a bust reliquary
installed on the left side altar of the church.
STA. RITA DE CASIA CHURCH, STA. RITA – a first class bone relic of Sta. Rita
is enshrined in a bust reliquary installed on the left side altar of the church.