“The chapel’s facade was inspired by the structure of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy” Source of info: http://saintpiocenter.com/St._Pio_Chapel.html
Two things made my first visit to Saint Pio Chapel memorable: feeding the pigeons and seeing rosary lanterns hanging from the trees.
Before I went to this chapel, I’ve heard so many stories. Many supposedly were brought closer to Jesus and felt their prayers were answered after they started going here. They say this is a place of miracles. They attribute this to the life of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, whose example inspires many, and many believe he continues to pray for us. Julius and Tintin Babao, the celebrity couple, also have their story to share (related article here: http://www.pep.ph/news/22562/broadcaster-julius-babao-explains-name-chosen-for-second-child).
But I believe that praying to God works regardless of where I am. So, what makes this chapel so special?
The answer to that may be different per person because we all have individual experiences and perspectives that are unique. Now, here’s my story.
It was a rainy Thursday afternoon when my family and I went here. I wasn’t expecting anything. From the parking lot, I had to keep my hood on to protect me from the drizzle. I was bent on going straight to the chapel where it’s dry and air-conditioned.
But while I was walking in the compound, my feet stopped at the Garden Angel Aviary. My eyes were drawn to the pigeons. Kids were feeding them. The pigeons even allowed the visitors to touch them, carry them. This wasn’t a common scene in Manila. When I was in Australia, it was, but not here.
Garden Angel Aviary
Suddenly, I was taken someplace safe. I was, for a few moments, liberated from all the worries, all the missed deadlines, and all the bills. This was perfect for me to have my me-time with God. Praying here felt better, because I was freed from the noise inside my heart. I enjoyed God through the pigeons.
A man who works here brought out a large bag of bird feeds. I asked for some. He gave me a lot. He also said there were small packs of bird feeds for free for anyone to get to feed the pigeons, and you could just drop any amount of donation in the box.
There’s an area where small packs of bird feeds are available for free to feed the pigeons. You are encouraged, however, to donate. Any amount will do.
In the same spot where I found the bird feeds, something that looked like a preserved twig was displayed. Below it was a description. This is the text:
“This cutting is from an olive tree in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, a garden across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem.
According to the Spanish Franciscan in charge of the garden who gave us the cutting, UNESCO dated the trees in this garden as being at least 2,000 years old, the period of Jesus Christ.
From Chari & Albert Montilla
4-16-14″
One of the pigeons, colored white and brown, stood out. I don’t know why. Maybe it was just my imagination. I went to it and held it, carried it. While my hands wrapped its body, it struggled to fly away. It took a few seconds for me to decide to open my palms and allow it to go. When I did, it didn’t fly away. Instead, it stopped struggling and peacefully stood on my palms as if everything’s finally okay!
That made me reflect. Sometimes in life, when I hold on to something so tightly, that something struggles to go away. When I loosen my grip, give it the option to leave, and start to surrender genuinely that it’s okay to let it go… that’s when it stays. Okay, most of the time, sometimes, I let things go, and they go. Short for #NotMeant and #BetterThingsToCome.
Having this prayerful mood, I realized my family was already inside the chapel and it was almost time for the church service. I went in. The place was packed. A lot were standing. It had a low ceiling, not like the regular chapels. But I must commend their great sound system. Every word spoken through the microphone was crystal clear. Halfway through the service though, it became really warm and stuffy. The air-conditioning probably worked well, just that, there were way too many people inside. I thought I had a better prayerful experience outside with the pigeons.
That evening, I was in for another surprise. Lanterns hanging from tree branches became noticeable and more attractive. I didn’t pay much attention to them when the sun was still up. But when it was nighttime, it was their time to shine, literally.
They were rosary lanterns. They looked like elegant chandeliers displaced outdoors, on trees instead of hanging from the indoor ceiling. But you know what, it worked. Taking a closer look, I saw colorful rosaries arranged carefully to create these beautiful lanterns.
What did these rosary lanterns say to me? A rosary is one symbol of prayer and meditation for me. Praying to God helps me see the light even in darkest of situations. A light in the dark. A lantern. A rosary lantern. Makes sense to me.
The rosaries were supposedly given voluntarily as thanksgiving from those whose prayers have been answered. You will find rosaries not just on trees as lanterns, but almost everywhere — on the ceiling, on the walls, along the walkway.
I don’t know what my two experiences meant to you. Feeding the pigeons and the sight of the rosary lanterns made me feel God’s smile. Maybe you’ll have a different experience. Maybe you’ll have something similar. Whatever it may be, may you always encounter God’s smile in simple situations to make them extraordinary.
Click here to see more pictures related to St. Pio Chapel.
Know more about the chapel and its history, click here: http://saintpiocenter.com/St._Pio_Chapel.html
Read celebrity Giselle Sanchez’s article about the chapel here: http://www.mb.com.ph/the-miracles-of-padre-pio-da-pietrelcina/
Read story of celebrity couple, Julius and Tintin Babao, click http://www.pep.ph/news/22562/broadcaster-julius-babao-explains-name-chosen-for-second-child
To read about Saint Pio’s prayers to God in English, click here: http://saintpiocenter.com/Praying_with_St._Pio/Praying_with_St._Pio.html
SAINT PIO CHAPEL
Address: RER Compound, 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (C-5), Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintPioChapelinLibis and https://www.facebook.com/SaintPioPhilippines
Email: admin@saintpiocenter.com
Website: http://saintpiocenter.com/
Open daily from 7am to 9pm
Tel. Nos.: 0908-8886923 / (02) 634-3668 / (02) 634-3669 (telefax)
Saint Pio Chapel Schedule:
(for updated chapel schedules, click here: http://saintpiocenter.com/Schedule_of_Masses.html)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
4:30 pm Rosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pm Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil & veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
Wednesday
4:15 pm Rosary and Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Pio.
5:30 pm Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil & veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
Saturday
(Anticipated Sunday Mass)
4:30 pm Rosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pm Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil & veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
Sunday
10:00 am Holy Mass followed by veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
12:15 pm Holy Mass followed anointing of holy oil
5:00 pm HolyMass followed by veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
7:00 pm Mass followed by followed anointing of holy oil
Every 23rd of the month
12:15 pm HolyMass followed by veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
4:30pm Rosary and St. Pio Novena
5:30 pm HolyMass followed by veneration of the St. Pio’s relics
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