St. Catherine's images in old Bataan church attract pilgrims

SAMAL, Bataan – Two old images of Saint Catherine of Siena that are present in the 422-year-old Church of Samal, one of seven pilgrim churches in Bataan, continue to attract thousands of faithful in their Visita Iglesia.

One image is believed 403 years old while the other is 300 years old. They are no longer seen in the main portion of the church but already for preservation in the archive.

The oldest Image has its face, neck, hands still intact and clean although the body shows termite infestation. It was brought by the early Dominicans who started building the church in 1596, next to the Church of Abucay, oldest in Bataan.

"The Image of Saint Catherine is said to be 300 years old which was intently made for the church. The face and body is too beautiful," 18-year-old altar boy Neil Garcia said.

He said a replica is displayed inside at the main entrance of the church.

As to the Visita Iglesia, Garcia said many from various areas in Luzon and Metro Manila pass by the Samal church and the other six pilgrim churches in their annual Lenten devotion.

"Almost every day, there are lots of people coming here and doing the Stations of the Cross," the altar boy said.

Meanwhile, busloads of pilgrims from various Luzon provinces started to arrive in Bataan for the start of Visita Iglesia practiced by Catholics during the Lenten Season.

Pilgrims from Manila and Tanauan, Batangas started their Visita Iglesia from the Hermosa Church to the churches in Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar and Orion.

In each church, groups recited prayers and performed the "Way of the Cross."

These churches were declared as pilgrim sites where thousands of visitors come every Lenten Season.

The Church of Abucay is the oldest in Bataan and one of the first built in the country being 430 years old. Sto. Domingo de Guzman is the patron saint. The Church of Samal, with Saint Catherine of Siena as patron saint, follows at 422 years.

Orion church (Saint Michael de Arcanghel) is 351 years old, Orani (Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario) – 308 years, Balanga (Saint Joseph) – 304 years, Hermosa (Saint Peter de Varona) – 262 years and Pilar (Virgen Milagrosa del Pilar) at 217 years. (PNA)