The Pilgrims and the Mother Ignacia Rolling-Healing Caravan Team

S. Ma. Felisa D., RVM

The 24 days Pilgrimage and Healing Journey-experience brought us to four countries in Europe : Italy , France , Spain and Portugal . The experiences derived from our travel were priceless treasures in our lives. They are holy desires, aspirations and dreams come true. What we read and meditated from books, magazines and watched at movies or documentaries became a reality. Actually seeing the holy place where our Lady appeared and where Saints lived and performed miracles was simply amazing. We could hardly believe we were indeed in these places.

June 25, 2004 , the day we were interviewed in the morning and started our European journey at 8:45 pm was quite a privilege. Five of us: Sisters Ma. Gloria Ross, Rosalia Nacionales, Josefina Se and Felisa Declaro with Mr. Jeffrey Campos took the Airfrance flight together while our two companions: Nina Raymundo and Juris Soliman joined us at De La Poste, Corps , France on July 1 st. We were seven (7) pilgrims who became a team for the Mother Ignacia Rolling-Healing Caravan.

At the airport in Rome , we were met by Amb. Philip Lhuillier, the present Philippine ambassador to Italy with his wife, Edna. The couple tendered a welcome dinner for us. Present at the occasion where Her Excellency Ms Nida de Vera Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican and most of their diplomatic officials and household staff. After dinner we had our first healing session at Amb. Lhuillier’s residence with around 35 people present.

Unplanned healing sessions were conducted in every place where we visited. We ministered to people with different ailments. Mostly those in Rome at the Basilica Pudenziana, healing of many Filipinos took place. Another group of OFW’s was organized by Jane, sister of Juris Soliman in France . Some Europeans joined the healing sessions at Lisieux, Lourdes , Ars, Paray-Le-Monial, Garabandal and Compostela in Spain , and in Portugal . We were able to conduct 19 healing sessions during our entire pilgrimage journey.

One of our most exciting experiences was attending the general audience with the Holy Father. It was a colorful convergence of people coming from difference countries. Each delegation came in their traditional costumes and made more alive with their unique music and slogans to greet the Holy Father. We patiently waited in prayer until the Holy Father emerged blessing and smiling to all the pilgrims. In the afternoon, we toured St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum.

The hollowed grounds where Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret at Paray-Le-Monial, and Our Lady at Lourdes, La Salette, Garabandal, Fatima and places where the Saints lived and ministered to people made us experience a renewed and stronger dedication to love and serve God’s people especially the sick.

The Eternal City and the grandeur that is Rome or France, the city of romance and lights, which has given birth to many Saints, or Spain the home of our faith and historical landmarks depicted in their huge churches and basilicas and Portugal, the chosen place of Our Pilgrim Lady of Fatima are indeed real wonders. Yet with all these many beautiful and miraculous places, we still longed for the Philippines because there is no place like home. Thank you, dear Lord , for this great and rare opportunity of visiting You in the different places of Europe , but we believe that our country the Philippines is the place you have given us to live and we should love.