Human life is a journey. All human beings without exception are walking towards eternity, namely Heaven, the eternal Jerusalem. The Church describes the human journey with a spiritual practice called pilgrimage. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that pilgrimage, in addition to reminding us of our pilgrimage to Heaven, is also important and appropriate for the renewal of prayer, seeking living sources to animate the forms of Christian prayer as the Church.
Pilgrimage is a description of a journey undertaken for a specific purpose, and here it is a spiritual purpose or intent, getting closer to God and being more able to pray. The basic intention is spiritual. It is not surprising that in the Church tradition, there is the term homo viator, we are pilgrims, on a journey. The Church encourages her people to go on pilgrimage.
In the Old Testament tradition, Jerusalem was first and foremost a place of pilgrimage. It was where the ark of the covenant was placed, hence the purpose of the pilgrimage. Jesus also made a pilgrimage there (cf. Luke 2:41-42; John 11:55-56), as if Jerusalem was the destination of his mystical journey (cf. Luke 9:51).
In the life of the Church, this tradition of pilgrimage continues. Not only Jerusalem but also places where there were important events in the life of Jesus became places of pilgrimage. Here the holy land has a special place because of its proximity to the Jesus event, and its close connection to God's saving event through and in Jesus Christ. Later the places of saints and martyrs as well as Marian apparitions and important churches became places of pilgrimage. In making pilgrimages, people live the eschatological dimension, the image of a pilgrimage to Heaven, the dimension of conversion and worship, as well as the apostolic dimension and communion as the Church.
On 15 May 2024, Saint Anna's parish organized a pilgrimage to the churches in Macau. There were 9 churches visited namely Our Lady of Penha's Chapel (Trappistine Sisters' Chapel), St. Lawrence's Church, St. Joseph's Seminary Chapel, St. Augustine's Church, St. Dominic's Church, Cathedral Church: Nativity of Our Lady's Church, St. Lazarus' Church, St. Michael's Chapel, St. Anthony's Church, and Ruin of St. Paul. These churches have a historic value in the diocese of Macau. Some of the churches were founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese. It was the Portuguese who brought Christianity to Macau.
That morning around 8 o'clock we met at Hong Kong Port. 20 people participated in this pilgrimage to Macau. After we gathered, we immediately left by bus to Macau. Around 9 o'clock we arrived at Macau port but because of the long queue at the immigration, we left the port at 10 o'clock. We took a public bus to "Centro". From 'Centro" we went to Penha Church, the first Church we visited. This Church was built on the top of the hill. From this church, we could see the city of Macau.
In Penha, our pilgrimage opened with a holy mass. After mass, we continued with the rosary in the chapel. After that, we went to the grotto of Mary of Lourdes to sing Ave Maria. Before leaving the Penha's Church we did not forget to take a group photo.
We then continued our journey to Saint Lawrence's Church. On the way, I reminded all of us to keep silent and keep praying the rosary along the way. The journey downhill from the top of the hill to Saint Lawrence's Church.
Once at St. Lawrence's Church, we took a group photo in front of the church and then entered the church to pray privately. After we finished praying, we continued our journey to St. Joseph's Seminary Church.
Upon arrival at St. Joseph's Seminary Church, we took a group photo and then entered the Church to pray privately. After praying privately, we visited the seminary museum. Inside the museum, we could see a historical movie of the seminary and ancient liturgical items such as mass kits, liturgical books, liturgical clothes, and statues.
We were still going down the hill. We walked to St. Augustine's Church. This Church is next to the convent of the Society of Jesus. As usual, we took a group photo first and then entered the church to pray privately. After praying we went to the restaurant because we were hungry.
Full and well-rested, we continued our journey to St. Dominic's Church in "Centro". This Church was very crowded as it is in the tourist center. The church was built in 1587. After a group photo, we went in to pray. The atmosphere in this church was uncomfortable because there were so many tourists and we were not allowed to sit to pray.
We left Saint Dominic's Church and walked towards the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Cathedral Church of the Macau Diocese. This Church was built in 1622. This church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We can see this above the entrance which says "SS.M.V. Marie Nascenti".
After visiting the Macau cathedral, we continued our journey to Saint Lazarus Church. But unfortunately, the Saint Lazarus Church is closed. We just prayed outside the church and didn't forget to take a photo together. This is the seventh church we have visited.
Now we will visit the Chapel of Saint Michael. This small chapel is in the middle of the cemetery. This chapel is dedicated to Saint Michael, the Archangel. Why is it dedicated to Saint Michael? In Church Tradition, 3 figures are the protectors of souls in the throes of death, namely Saint Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Michael. This chapel is very striking because it is painted in bright green.
We continued our journey towards St Anthony's Church. This year, the diocese of Macau, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Saint Magdalene of Canossa, designated the Church of Saint Anthony to be one of the churches where pilgrimages are made to obtain indulgences.
We continued our journey towards St Anthony's Church. This year, the diocese of Macau, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Saint Magdalene of Canossa, designated the Church of Saint Anthony to be one of the churches where pilgrimages are made to obtain indulgences. This is the last church we visited. To close our pilgrimage in Macau we visited the icon of the city of Macau, namely the ruins of St Paul's Church. After we were satisfied with taking photos in front of the ruins of St. Paul's Church, we went down to the bus stop to Macau Port to return to Hong Kong.
Sharing from one of the pilgrimage participants to Macau:
One day Pilgrimage to Macau churches was a deeply enriching journey. Each church had its unique character and contributed to the spiritual fabric of Macau. The architectural beauty, religious significance, and the opportunity for personal reflection made it a memorable journey that deepened my understanding of Macau's rich spiritual heritage.
Throughout the pilgrimage, you can find moments for quiet reflections, embrace the spiritual significance, and offer prayers at each church. At the same time enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of Macau, including its skyline, harbor, and the surrounding natural beauty.
Visiting the churches in Macau is worth a visit. It allows you to disconnect from the fast-paced world and find solace in the quiet, sacred spaces. It's a chance to nourish your soul, seek spiritual inspiration, and immerse oneself in the rich spiritual, cultural, and historical tapestry of the city.
I offer my gratitude to Fr. David and the two Brothers for the opportunity to embark on this pilgrimage and experience so much peace, renewed faith, and a deeper connection with God. (Yvette Fernandes)