After mass yesterday morning , our parish organist informed me that there was a celebration going on at Sta. Cruz Church . The day was the Feast of the Holy Cross which the church moved three days later of its original schedule . The day was cloudy and rainy as usual , but we stood firm on our decision to join the celebration. We arrived at our destination nearly noon , with the rain pouring at it’s heaviest making it very difficult to have  lunch with the rest of parishioners.  Anyway , we  made it through lunch standing as there were not enough chairs and tables in the canopies for us to sit and eat. JM went shopping for  toys in the rain  , but had to cut it short as we were in the brink of catching pneumonia from the wet and the cold weather. We immediately went inside the church for prayers and a historical tour. The church itself is old , built in 1770 by the first descendants of the Portuguese traders , but the interior and the altar are very beautiful .  What  caught my attention was a relic , exposed for veneration , which according to parishioners is a  piece of the cross where Jesus was crucified .  Photos below :

Sta. Cruz Church

JM at the entrance of the church.

Front view of the altar.

Side view of the altar.

Our  Lady of Lourdes at the left side of the altar.

St.  Joseph and the Child Jesus at the right side of the altar.

Pulpit with the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Relic of the Holy Cross exposed for veneration.

Wide open and glass stained windows.

Front entrance of the church.

Rain drenched Sta. Cruz Pier