The Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag: Holy Week Special

Our Lady of Manaoag Church

Holy week is just around the corner and this coming Sunday is the start of the holy celebration. Palm Sunday is the kickstart of the Holy Week for Christ followers. It’s been 4 years now that I’d never celebrate the Lenten Season in Manaoag so I am thinking of writing my pledge here. Whenever its Easter most of my time when I was still studying I was at Manaoag, attending summer workshops sponsored by the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag Parish and other religious activities like recollection, station of the cross, Novena etc. I lived in Laoac and that was the next town before Binalonan if your going to Manila or Baguio, now that I am married I am living with my wife at Borac Street, Nalsian, Manaoag and it is easier for me to visit the church whenever I go home. I hope this sunday I can go home without delay and hear the mass to start the Holy week. I am anticipating that it would not be easy for me to travel as people will flock bus terminals in the Metro just to go home to their provinces and devotees, pilgrimage of Our Lady of Manaoag will also head to our town. Happy Easter!

Our Lady of Manaoag Church is like my second home as my grandmother works as Registrar Officer at Our Lady of Manaoag College (formerly Holy Rosary Academy) then later on the job was turned over to my mom and until now my dearest mother is still working as a registrar and a part-time instructor of Stenography class in the college department. I graduated on the said school from Kindergarten, High School and College, that’s why I was so loyal to this institution. I can say that I am a devoted Catholic because they are teaching Religion as part of the curriculum and God is still the center of our life even if I was married to a woman who has a different religious belief. Tupig vendors will be busier on this occasion so expect vendors on the streets of Manaoag. I was once a vendor of tupig that’s why I know haha. Whenever I go home, I don’t forget to bring this delicacy to our office as “pasalubong” to my office mates. I would like to tell more stories about Manaoag Church but I will write it on a separate blog for now I would like to share a prayer and schedule of mass, see below.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of Manaoag

Virgin Mother of God, Queen of the most Holy Rosary, thou, who hast chosen to raise thy throne of mercy in Manaoag, to be the beloved protectress and Patron of the Province of Pangasinan, and therefrom to bestow thy graces on us, thy children, banished in this valley of tears, look down with thine eyes of mercy upon me, who am beset with so many dangers of body and soul. Despise not my petition, O dearest Mother, but intercede for me before thy divine Son now and at the hour of my death. Amen.

Virgin of Manaoag, pray for us.

 

Schedule of Religious Activities:
Masses
Monday – Friday every hour 5am – 11am
Saturday – every hour 5am – 12nn & 4:30pm
Sunday – every hour 5am – 12nn, 3pm & 4:30pm

Confession
Wednesday and Friday 7am – 8:30am
After every mass at the sacristy

Rosary
Monday to Saturday 5:45pm

Baptism
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday10am – Registration, 11am – Baptism

Blessing of Religious Articles
Inside the Church after every mass and at the Blessing Area at the back of the church 3pm-4pm

Fiestas
First Sunday of October and Third Wednesday after Easter Sunday

 

How to get to Manaoag in Pangasinan:

Go to bus companies like Dagupan Bus Line, Five Star or Victory Liner (Dagupan or Baguio City Destination).

If you are riding Victory Liner (Baguio City Destination) your drop off point is at Binalonan Crossing then take a jeepney going to Manaoag visible landmark is Flying V gas station and the big signage that say’s To Manaoag Church. The travel time might be slower as drivers maximizes their time on the road to get more passengers.
For Dagupan Destination your drop off point is at Urdaneta City infront of Magic Mall Urdaneta then take a tricycle going to Manaoag a fare of Php 25.00/head and maximum capacity of 5 persons.

For Dagupan Bus and Five Star bus just tell the conductor or bus driver to drop you off in Manaoag Church.

The trip takes about 3 to 5 hours if you are coming from Manila. If you’re coming from Baguio, Manaoag is about 2 hours.

After the mass, you may want to go to the beautiful beaches or celebrate Bangus Festival 2011 in Dagupan City this month of April or side trip to Baguio City. Enjoy your travel to our town. Have fun!