Simala Church photographed by: KarlaDeJoseJust about an hour and a half ride from Cebu is a shrine famous for the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, which is under the responsibility of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration.
The shrine is located in upper Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, south of Cebu. A multitude of devotees and pilgrims visit the shrine every thirteenth of the month to join in Eucharistic celebrations.
To get to the shrine from Cebu, one can get on a private car or a v-hire that will take you directly to Simala. There are also public buses that run the south Cebu route. When taking these public transportations, one has yet to ride a motorcycle dubbed the “habal-habal” to get to Upper Lindogon.
The Simala church is a statuesque structure and the area surrounding it is beautifully landscaped, with miniature waterfalls, picturesque gardens, homey cottages, and a wishing well.
The church interior is still a work in progress but the aura of solemnity can already be intensely felt. Numerous devotees line up to to either send their petitions to the glass-encased image of the Miraculous Virgin Mary or to touch the veil she was said to wear during the famous healing phenomenon. While on queue, one can read through petitions and thank you notes, and even behold mementos of gratitude sent in by healed devotees, in cabinets lined up along the paths. For those who are not up for long queues, they can pray on the pews or light some colored candles to send their petitions.
Aside from a light heart, one other thing visitors can bring home from Simala is a prayer card with a rose petal from the Marian monks.
RESOURCES: http://johnvill.com/miraculous-mary-in-simala-cebu-city/
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