Visita Iglesia 2014

Armando Magtalas Balajadia and his mother, Rosario Magtalas Balajadia went to Vacaville, Fairfield, and Suisun City, California to visit several churches for Visita Iglesia. Visita Iglesia is a traditional practice of Roman Catholics to visit the several churches during the celebration and observance of Holy Week. They went to several Catholic Churches on April 17, 2014 (Holy Thursday) at 1:00pm.

First Catholic Church: Saint Mary Catholic Church
                                     350 Stinson Avenue,
                                     Vacaville, California 95688 USA
                                     http://stmarysvacaville.com/

   

Second Catholic Church: Saint Joseph Catholic Church

                                         1791 Marshall Road,

                                          Vacaville, California 95687 USA

                                          http://stjv.org/  

 

   

Third Catholic Church: Holy Spirit Church

                                     1050 North Texas Street,

                                     Fairfield, California 94533 USA

                                     http://www.holyspiritfairfield.org/
     

They visited three Catholic churches only for that day because of crowded people inside the churches. Most of the Catholics in California are Hispanics (Mexican, Salvadorian, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, and other Spanish speaking people), Filipinos, Italians, Portuguese, Brazilian, and Polish. During their visit, they recited the Station of the Cross per church visit. They attended the mass at Holy Spirit Church after the recitation of Station of the Cross. This is the memorable Holy Week celebration in United States. Still, they are not eating meat during the celebration of Holy Week. In United States of America, they don't celebrate the Holy Week because majority of the people in United States are Protestants and Born Again Christians. They are celebrating Easter Sunday. 

At Morton Salt (Armando's employer), Holy Friday or Good Friday is considered as a paid holiday because the founder of Morton Salt, Joy Morton was a Catholic from Ireland. Armando took his vacation on Holy Thursday so that he and his family can celebrate the Holy Week in United States. They missed the Holy Week celebration in Philippines. In Philippines, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday are considered as legal and paid holidays. Some companies in Philippines that the whole Holy Week (from Holy Monday to Black Saturday) are considered as paid holidays.