August 15, 2010
God and mammon
The Philippines is the only country I know where Sunday Masses are celebrated in shopping malls. They are usually held in big, open areas where performances and other special events also take place. Some shopping centers that have many buildings sprawled over a large space even have their own chapels. I showed the one in Greenbelt last year. This one is the Chapel of the Holy Family in the Greenhills Shopping Center in the City of San Juan.
Wow, what an interesting concept. But, if it gets people to worship, who are we to argue.
ReplyDeleteNice shot.
Darryl and Ruth : )
I haven't been to a shopping mall in a long time but I don't think we have anything like this here in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteNo chapels in malls that I know of but we have them in hospitals. They're always non-denominational. Now and again you might find a start-up church in a strip mall where rents are cheap. Once in a while churches will rent a public building (including school auditoriums) to hold their Sunday services. But this is usually seen as a temporary measure. I suppose believers don't need a building to have a service. It's what is housed in the heart that matters.
ReplyDeleteThe golden tones of the interior are just lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly makes sense to put the church where the people are, and this one looks quite welcoming.
I agree! I also remember visiting this chapel! Have a Blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I suppose convenient too :)
ReplyDeleteSuper photo, Hilda... I like how you included the stained glass on top. It's true, I've never seen so many places of worship in commercial areas as here in the Philippines. And whereas a hospital/mall chapel in most places sit empty, here I often chance on a service with lots of worshipers.
ReplyDeletewhen i was in cebu i was attending mass for quite some time inside a mall but actually inside a cinema.
ReplyDeleteI marvel:
ReplyDeleteThe sky is blue
And I am alive
And so is the sea
And the air
And the sun.
i like this part the most. it reminds me of my travels and how marvelous those moments were.
That's quite unique indeed, never heard of masses in shopping malls before...
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
Quite amazing! I did not know this about Manila and the country.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great.. I couldn't believe it when our local Hospital removed the Chapel..
ReplyDeleteHave a great day..
Patsy
American shopping emporiums feature dentists, doctors and massage salons along with shops selling everything produced in China.
ReplyDeleteI think a chapel to take care of the spiritual end of things might be an useful addition. After you've shopped till you've dropped, you could go to chapel and pick yourself up.
A beautiful view you captured.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea.
I saw a synagogue in a little mall in Jerusalem.
Hilda, please come see my answer to your comment about the parish church. I had a little explaining to do. :)
Nice juxtaposition. And we all have to coexist, don't we.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting concept, but if people take advantage of the opportunity to attend Mass that's great.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting as a non-catholic believer.
ReplyDeleteIs that to get people to the masses?
ReplyDelete;)
http://budapestcityphoto.wordpress.com/
Excellent and appropriate title.
ReplyDeleteThere is a shopping mall near Chez la Vache that specializes in Asian food and merchandise. A Chinese Lutheran parish says mass in the mall once a month.
there is an asian mall here that has a little place where people worship on sunday. don't know if the service was christian or some other religion.
ReplyDelete