Our Pilgrimage to Monasterio De Tarlac

 

Our Pilgrimage to Monasterio De Tarlac..(A santuary of the Holy Cross, Mount of the Resurrection, Monastic Community, Eco Tourism Park , Brgy Lubigan, San Jose , Tarlac , Philippines ) 

 

The decision to visit to the monastery de Tarlac  in Barangay Lubigan in San Jose, Tarlac which displays a reliquary containing what is believed to be the only existing fragment of Jesus Christ’s cross in the entire Asia, last November 22, 2008, was a very good spiritual experience we made with my friends Mila Fernando and Mai Ciocson…

 

Since I had a very fruitful Monasterio de Tarlac pilgrimage experience last November 22,  I thought of making another trip and give a unique Christmas reflection trip gift to my family and friends.

 

My barangay of relatives and friends were all pleased and thankful for the unique Christmas gift trip experience I gave them… We made the Tarlac trip last December 20, 2008

 

On my second Tarlac trip last December 20 Tarlac trip….meron kami movie on board to while away boring travel time, me attendance sheet, for tour participants/travellers data base, me introduction of the driver, tour guide and interactions of tour participants, me talkies and resource speaker on board, an amazing young student Monk at a young age of 22, who is full of spiritual wisdom, named Brother Jero who was kind enough to have a reflective open forum on board, to tell stories insights about the cross, about the life of a monk, to give his positive thoughts, wisdoms and counselling to all..

 

our group was lucky to have Father Ronald Thomas ” Archie” Arellano Cortez,  the Superior general of the SRC ( Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community) celebrated the mass that day….mapalad na nakasama ko ang aking mga relatives and friends sa trip na un…lalo na si Ms. Fely Mendoza and Ms. Doris Esteban, I like very much the very touching prayers offered by Father Cortez for the group. We were all teary eyed of joy, we were able to release all the burdens in our hearts in our pervent prayers. We were all enlightened, inspired and touched by the silent moments of prayers on top of the mountain. Aside from the sumptous lunch prepared by the monks for our group, we were indeed delighted by the great view, which is God’s work of art…I highly recommend this trip to all…

 

An Invitation to all..

 

Find the way to the Holy Cross.. Seeing is believing…

Visit one of the most solemnly “ Revered pilgrimage site”  and found the Relic of the True Cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified and died for us.  

Pilgrims and tourists who want to visit the monastery may e-mail to monasteriotarlac@yahoo.com or call

 

Transsafari Events and Logistics  Services

 

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2210 Don Chino Rocas Avenue, Makati City

Landline Tel: +63 (02) 856-3787,  +63 (02) 856-4240

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Email Address: transsafari_events@yahoo.com,ph

 

Check out www.monasteriotarlac.multiply.com

 

Please refer to photos attached and details re cross relics  at the monasterio de Tarlac…..

   

The Relic at the  Monasterio De Tarlac……

 

The Servants of the Risen Christ, Monastic Community, Sanctuary of the Holy Cross, Monasterio de Tarlac, Mount of the Resurrection, Eco-Tourism Park and Campsite located at Brgy Lubigan, San Jose , Tarlac, Phils.  

 

The  Monasterio de Tarlac has been cited by DOT as “the most revered pilgrimage site” in the region “on account of its spiritual prominence as the shrine of the sacred relic of the true cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified and died.” The relic is contained in a silver reliquary housed in an ornately decorated glass case on one of the altars of the Church of the Risen Christ in the sprawling monastery where one also finds a 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ. top the imposing altar is the Latin inscription Ave, Crux, Spes, Unica, which means “Hail, the Holy Cross, Our Only Hope.” they said, the relic is the only one of its kind in the entire Asia and is now under the ministerial care of the Servants of the Risen Christ, a monastic congregation led by its prior, Frater Ronald Thomas ” Archie” Cortez.

 

The congregation has only 40 contemplative monks or religious brothers nationwide. They are also called “frater” to the Catholic community. Msgr. Volker Bauer of Germany turned over the sacred relic to Priar Cortez during the 2005 World Youth Day held in Essen , Germany    In Essen, he said Bauer first informed Cortez about plans to turn over the relic to the Philippines . Last Jan. 29, Bauer flew into the country with the relic, which was first brought to a church at the Clark Freeport before being transferred to its final destination at the Monasterio de Tarlac the monastery, Papal Nuncio Rev. Fr. Fernando Filoni and Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinense led the “dedication” ceremonies. Since then, number of pilgrims to the site has swelled, prompting the monks to hold 10 a.m. Masses on Saturdays and Sundays.. After the Mass, the faithful are allowed to have a closer look at the cross fragment in the reliquary to pay homage and be blessed spiritually, Starting Sept. 14 this year when the entire Christendom commemorates the anniversary of the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the silver case containing the relic would be opened for public veneration. In 1963, the Catholic Church declared Sept. 14 of every year as the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.  

 

 “According to Christian tradition when Emperor Constantine granted religious freedom to Christians in the Roman Empire in 313 A.D., his mother, Queen Helena, later in 326 A.D.,

made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to locate those places sacred to Christians and found the authentic cross of Jesus,”  “Queen Helena had churches built in many of these sacred sites, such as the Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre, Calvary , the exact place where Jesus was born. She also found the true cross buried under a pagan temple as well the nails (used to crucify Jesus), and the title that was affixed to the cross,” it added. Queen Helena was said to have verified the true cross among the three that were unearthed under the temple, as it produced miracles, including the return to life of a dead girl when her body was placed on a part of the cross “She left part of the cross in Jerusalem, gave some parts to her son in Constantinople, and took other parts back to Rome where the Church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem was built,” the DOT said “Pieces of the cross were venerated as holy relics, and fragments were given as gifts to many churches in Europe,” it added. Tarlac Gov. Jose Yap developed the 278-hectare Tarlac Ecotourism Park where the Monasterio de Tarlac is located.