Iloilo church to host Philippine’s 1st exhibit of miracles

ILOILO CITY—A parish church in this city will host the country’s first exhibit of the Vatican-recognized Eucharistic miracles reported in various countries.

The exhibit would be held at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Molo District here from Nov. 7 to Dec. 3, according to a statement posted at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website.

The exhibit will include 140 panels mounted with high-resolution photographs and descriptions of Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Catholic Church including those dating back to the 18th century. It also includes poster maps indicating the location of the purported miracles in each country.

Eucharistic miracles often involve incidents where the Host purportedly turned into human flesh and blood.

The exhibit, called the “Vatican International Exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles of the World,” was first displayed in 2005 in the Vatican during the First Eucharistic Congress and is being toured in various countries.

The Vatican has credited the compilation of records of the Eucharistic miracles to a 15-year-old boy, Carlo Acutis, who researched on the 140 incidents recognized by the Church as miracles.

The Church has started the process for the beatification of Acutis who died of leukemia in 2006.

The exhibit in Iloilo will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Doña Pacita Jaruda Sia Community Center beside the parish church, parishioner Lorena Martirez told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Martirez initiated the holding of the exhibit in the country early this year and was granted by the Vatican the exhibit’s copyright for the Philippines.

“We must let the people know that the Lord is here and is literally present in the Holy Eucharist,” Martirez said.

Parish priest Fr. Norberto Taccadao said in the statement that through the project they hope to deepen the people’s faith especially their “love for the Holy Eucharist” and increase attendance to Masses.

(Inquiries or arrangements for group visits for the exhibit can be channeled to Lorena Martirez, email: [email protected], telephone numbers (033) 3213096, +63908-891-1677.)