"Artifacts found in the Chapel of Twin Hearts"
1. The Brown/Golden Colored Stone
This stone was originally found at the site where the current cross above the chapel stands. Ms. Estrella found the stone in 2006 and the size was approximately three (3) inches in diameter. Over the years the stone grew in size and became heavier with the tiny holes apparently increasing in size.
2. The Carved Burnt Wood
This piece of wood was given to Ms. Estrella by a ward clerk, Clara Edwards, at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois where she worked as a nurse in the Department of Surgical Intensive Care Unit in 1998. Nobody knows who carved this wood and its origin since it was suddenly found and seen at the ward clerk’s desk. After three months Ms. Estrella asked the clerk “Who owns that piece of wood?” and the clerk said “I don’t know who owns it but if you are interested you can have it and bring it with you”. Without hesitation Ms. Estrella took the carved wood and was happy to have it and kept it for many years. On this piece of wood there is a carving of a chapel with the inscribed letter “XISTO”. The meaning of the word was not discovered until the chapel altar was completed. During the excavation of the chapel foundation a very large stone was found buried in the ground which took more than three weeks to remove. This stone was found at the chapel entrance. Upon the instructions of Ms. Estrella the stone was cleaned for the purpose of making it as the base of the altar table. Only then when the altar was completed that the meaning of the word “XISTO” became clear. “XISTO” means stone.
3. The cut piece of wood from the Crucifix in the Altar
This piece of wood is a portion of the crucifix that is mounted on the altar wall. The crucifix was given to Dr. Annie Largosa (sister of Ms. Estrella) by her patient. The crucifix was blessed by Fr. Martin Bulinski a native of Jasna Gora, the home of the beloved miraculous icon Our Lady of Czestochowa. The Black Madonna was venerated by Pope John Paul II, now Saint John Paul II, as the Queen of Poland. It has shed oil on August 26, 2012 at the home of Gregorio Juvida, Jr. in Tinley Park, Illinois.
4. The Statue of Our Lady of Montserrat
This statue came from the Shrine of Montserrat located in the mountain of Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain. The statue was brought from a pilgrimage of Ms. Estrella and her sister Annie in May 2012. The shrine was constructed in the 12th century and now with modern artistic development including the big Basilica which is 1,846 feet above sea level. The Shrine of Montserrat has been visited by numerous saints and to mention a few; Saint Benedict of Nursia, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Vincent Ferrer (Patron Saint of the Rigodon Family). The Shrine of Montserrat has been venerated by the Benedictine Abbey and Monks with their participation in the Shrine devotional prayer and Eucharistic Celebration of the Mass. The Boy’s Choir on the Shrine with 50 participants is well known and famous in the whole of Europe. The mountain of Montserrat is also surrounded by Benedictine Monasteries. This statue has been blessed by Monsignor Ruben Labajo, who also blessed the St. Benedict Chapel in 2009, Lagtang, Talisay City. Because the Shrine of Montserrat is located in the mountain so also this statue was brought here to this chapel of the Twin Hearts in Sirao during her feast day. Guided by divine intervention Ms. Estrella was prompted to read about our Lady of Montserrat two days before her feast day and so she found out that her feast day is April 27. Ms. Estrella instructed the caretaker to invite people to bring the statue to Calvary Mountain on her feast day offering prayers with rosaries, a procession, candles and flowers. They also brought food for the participants. The statue then was enthroned on April 27, 2015.
