“Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life” - as we end this year’s Lenten Season let us contemplate on this mystery by checking out this church located just across Ikea in SM Mall of Asia (MOA).
The Shrine of Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life is the church nearest to SM MOA, which is perfect for mall employees and shoppers to unwind and relax their weary spirit.
As for me, I make it a point to visit this church whenever I go to MOA.
The Shrine got its name from the message of Pope John Paul II during the 10th World Youth Day in Rizal Park in 1995 where he highlighted Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
The land and the construction of the church was donated by the SM magnate Henry Sy, Sr. and his wife. The church was consecrated and dedicated in 1999 by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
The church, despite being built during the modern era, is of classical church architecture. This is a plus point for me because I prefer old architectural styles like Baroque or Medieval. Churches with modern architectural styles tend to be ugly or banal because they look like an office or commercial building. Beautiful churches uplift the spirit because they mirror the beauty of God.
The church interior also didn’t disappoint. The altar is of classical church design but without the usual image of the Crucified Jesus.
The shrine’s altar features a painting of the Gospel scene where Mama Mary and Saint Joseph found the missing Jesus in the Temple. The designers of the Shrine chose this painting as it connects the young Jesus with the World Youth Day. The painting is telling young people visiting this church that Jesus was once a youth like them. This means that Jesus understands the challenges, joys, sufferings, and experiences of the youth. That Jesus will not belittle their prayers just because they are young.
The stained-glass window of this church features the patron saints of the youth: Saint Maria Goretti and Saint Dominic Savio.
There is also a beautiful stained glass art of the Virgin Mary.
The Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life is the eighth and the last church that I featured for this year’s virtual Visita Iglesia. This is one more than the usual 7 churches I featured in the previous years. I did this because my Visita Iglesia journey leads to Easter. And the central figure on Easter Sunday is the resurrected Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
HAPPY EASTER to everyone!
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Mass schedules of Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 6 PM
Wednesday - 5 PM and 6:30 PM with novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Saturday - 5:30 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday - 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM, and 7 PM
Weddings - schedule provided to Parish Office at least two months prior to the wedding date
Baptism - schedule provided to Parish Office at least two weeks prior to actual baptism date
Confession - 5 PM every day except Monday and Sundays
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Visita Iglesia is the Filipino tradition of visiting churches during the Holy Week. This virtual Visita Iglesia is my own tradition wherein I post about one church each day of the Holy Week.
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