Newchapel opens at SMNorth Edsa
Mall goers at SM City North Edsa now have a new House of God where they can pray, attend Mass and services, and renew their spirit at the new Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel at the Fourth Level of The Block.
To mark this special occasion, a celebration of the Holy Eucharist was held at the chapel last June 8. This was led by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, who also blessed the chapel.
Designed by international design architecture firm Arquitectonica, the 1,075-sq m chapel has a dome-shaped structure illuminated by a skylight. Inspired by ancient Roman architecture, this will surely give worshippers a place for prayer and devotion.
One of the chapel’s major highlights is a band that runs around the ceiling, with the words of the “Hail Mary.”
Also of interest are the Sta
tions of the Cross, a collection from the Sy family sketched by the late great Filipino National Artist Ang Kiukok. The dynamic and geometric style completes the contemporary look of the chapel.
Sacred sculptures of the Crucifix, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary and St. Joseph by master sculptor Eduardo Castrillo can also be found in the chapel.
Felicidad Sy chose to name the chapel after our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, as she is a devotee of Our Lady. The new chapel was built to give thanks and glory to God, and to give back to the religious community.
The first Mass at SM City North Edsa, SM’s first mall, was initiated by Jaime Cardinal Sin and Sy in the late 1980s to bring Jesus to the people. SM City North Edsa also became the novena area of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary when her image from Santo Domingo was brought to the area from 1986 to 1988 during the month of October.
Since that time, SM has opened chapels at SM Megamall and SM Aura, as well as the Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life at the Mall of Asia Complex and the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod in SM Seaside in Cebu.
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is located at The Block, and can house an estimate of 1,000 patrons, and will hold masses Monday to Saturday 12:15 and 6 pm in English, and Sunday 10:30 amand 6 pmin English and 4:15 p.m. in Tagalog.
The administration and management of the chapel will be under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cubao under Most Reverend Honesto Ongtioco, DD.