Mt. Carmel Shrine in Cubao declared pilgrimage site by Catholic Church

MANILA, Philippines—Catholics in Metro Manila may not have to travel far to go on a pilgrimage.

The Diocese of Cubao recently declared Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City, as a pilgrimage church for the Year of the Faith, which started last month and will end in November 2013.

It was Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco who designated the famous church as a pilgrimage site, announced the CBCPNews, the official news service of the Philippine Church hierarchy.

The faithful may gain plenary indulgence by visiting the church and by going on a “spiritual journey” on their own, according to Fr. Ransom Rapirap, assistant parish priest of Mt. Carmel.

Rapirap suggested that pilgrims visiting the shrine “take part in some sacred function or at least pause for an apt time of recollection with pious meditations” in order to receive plenary indulgence.

Their short reflection must also be concluded with the recitation of the “Our Father,” the profession of Faith, invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Holy Apostles or Patrons, said Rapirap.

The priest further explained that a plenary indulgence would require a person to be in a state of grace, to be completely detached from sin and to pray for the Holy Father’s intentions.

The individual must also go to confession and receive the Holy Communion up to 20 days before or after completing the other acts, he added.

In Catholic belief, a plenary indulgence is the remission of all temporal punishments levied for one’s sins. These punishments may come either in the here and now or in the next life, in purgatory.

But for those who can’t visit the church due to physical illness, Rapirap said they could still obtain plenary indulgence by praying in their homes the “Our Father” (the Lord’s Prayer), the Apostle’s Creed and other prayers related to the objectives of the Year of Faith.