Beautiful Churches Around the World (Part 1)

Our family traveled a fair bit when I was a child. One of the places my parents loved going to were churches. The most memorable one I remember visiting when I was a child was the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I just remember being happy and excited to see the huge church and that was also when I learned about catacombs. Since then I made it a point to visit churches whenever I travel. Here's a few of those I've visited in the last few years -

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore

This was the church where I first attended mass in Singapore. My brother had brought all of us to Singapore for a short vacation. This photo was taken last Christmas when we heard mass with Mom. The church underwent renovation for a few years and I heard won a heritage award. 

St. Bede's Church, Sydney, Australia

I immediately fell in love with this church when I heard mass there last December. It's a quaint, small church near where I usually stay in Sydney. It's a great place to worship and be grateful for the blessings God provides.

Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, Korea

I did not have the chance to enter the church since the steps were too steep for me. The church was really beautiful from the outside and I now regret not going in since the inside looks amazing based on the photos I saw on Google Images.

St. Francis Church, Melbourne, Australia

Heard mass in this church with my boys last May 2017. The church has a beautiful nook for Mama Mary which is worth another visit. I hope to visit this church again when I'm back in Melbourne. 

St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia

One of the most beautiful church I've visited in my entire life. When you step in the church it's like going back in time. I am amazed how they had built a structure like this in 1788. We spent another hour after mass just exploring the church. 

Church of St. Teresa, Singapore

This is now where I regularly hear mass when I'm in Singapore since it's near where I live. I love that the church is bright and spacious. I always remember St. Teresa because my Mom is her devotee and my sister is named after her. The community is also awesome.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Kalibo, Philippines

This church will be forever in my memory because this is where I became a godparent for a wedding for the very first time. 

St. James the Great Parish, Alabang, Philippines

I always go to this church for weddings of friends. I think it's the perfect church for weddings.

Images of Baclayon Church

Baclayon Church in Bohol is the second oldest Church in the Philippines. The Church of the Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion was built by the Jesuits in 1717 and what is interesting about the structure is the fact that the natives used coral stones from the sea and cemented together with egg whites. Upon closer inspection of the walls you would notice that it is indeed much different from other old Churches in the Philippines.

In the Church is a museum that showcases old relics and artifacts that were used in the olden times. They had the same gigantic music book which I saw at San Agustin Church, lots of statues which they used to bring in processions, ecclesiastical vestments (I couldn't imagine how they wore it). The guide also pointed out a Sto. Nino which got stolen several times already.

I felt that I stepped back in time when I went inside the Church. I was almost sure I would see Padre Damaso and Maria Clara in prayer. I imagined dressed up matrons fanning themselves which furiously praying the rosary. And saw sacristans running around while the friars were busy talking to the gobernadorcillo. It felt that way because women in sleeveless and shorts were requested to don a blouse and skirt to cover their arms and legs. I had to wear my sarong because I was wearing shorts.

What I found most interesting in the Church though were the windows. The windows had colorful stained glass on it which cast interesting lively colors on the pews

The other windows seemed like portals to the past. I wonder if this area looked the same a hundred years ago.  One can just wonder how things were in the past.

Outside the Church one would nice that one of the panels looked like someone drew a photo of Padre Pio on it. Do you see it?

I had a lovely time at the Baclayon Church, most especially since I went there with my boys.