NOTE: Visit my post SM Makati Mass Schedule if you are looking for schedule of Holy Mass in Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel (also known as SM Makati Chapel).
SM Malls have good in-mall chapels. One of the best SM Mall chapels is the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in SM Megamall. This chapel is the biggest in-mall chapel I have seen since its own adoration chapel and chapel offices, aside from the main chapel area.
Another SM chapel that I visited is Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in SM Makati.
This SM chapel is also big but still pales in comparison with the chapel in SM Megamall.
The chapel's altar is quite simple or I daresay empty save for the crucifix and the small tabernacle.
The SM Makati Chapel is just new because it was opened on December 8, 2022, which is just 4 months ago. December 8 is a special day because it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. On December 10, the chapel was blessed by Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula.
I just discovered this chapel when I went to the payment center to pay for my Pag-IBIG housing loan. The payment center is at the front of the chapel.
Outside of the chapel are the satellite frontline offices of Makati City and the national government. I couldn't help but think that this set-up emulates the traditional town square in the Philippines where the church is just a few distance away from the government center.
For the schedule of Holy Mass in SM Makati Chapel, please read my blog post SM Makati Mass Schedule.
I believe that many mall operators set up chapels in their malls as part of their business plan. Catholic masses usually draw a large number of people. In fact, fast food restaurants cluster near churches because of the crowd every Sunday and holy days. Sadly, many of these mall operators think only of money and just set up "chapels" along corridors and even under stairs. These are places that are not suitable for the dignity and holiness of the Lord being celebrated every Mass. What's more saddening is that priests accept such areas even if they are not suitable.
I think that in-mall chapels like the one SM Makati and SM Megamall are very good examples of in-mall chapel. The chapel area is clearly separated from the main mall, which allowed for the solemn celebration of the Mass.
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Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting seven or fourteen churches during Maundy Thursday. For each day, this Holy Week, I will feature one church as a sort of virtual Visita Iglesia.
Read about the churches that I visited this year
Palm Sunday: Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion Uno, Marikina
Holy Monday: Santo Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Makati
Fig Tuesday: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in SM Makati
Spy Wednesday: Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Santa Rosa, Laguna
Maundy Thursday: Saint John Paul II Chapel in NAIA Terminal 3- - -
References:
1. SM Makati Opens Chapel and Manila Cathedral’s Fr Regie is the Mission Station Chaplain in Dominus EST
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