Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Aquinas University Chapel in Rawis, Legazpi City

The Chapel of Aquinas University in Rawis, Legazpi City

These photos were taken last May 2009. This is the Chapel of the school where I was taking Masters in Religious Education. This is the first time for me to visit this Chapel because it is quite far from the main campus. You have to walk quite far in order to reach this place.

The Main Altar, the celebrants' chairs and the large image of the Resurrected Lord

This is a very beautiful Chapel, architecturally speaking. It is situated in a very quiet place, very serene and conducive for prayer. The surroundings are also stunningly beautiful. The Chapel is circular in formation and is open from all sides.

The Chapel viewed from the small garden surrounding it

Being open from all sides gives you the privilege to see the beauty of nature around it. Air is free-flowing and the sunlight is also aplenty. However, I discovered that the Blessed Sacrament is nowhere to be found. Later I discovered that it is located in the Sacristy at the back which is locked.

The Steel Bars of its Interior Ceiling
The absence of the Blessed Sacrament I think explains the reason why few people seems to be entering this Chapel for personal prayer. It seems to be empty and cold. The presence of the modern arts at the sides I think also privides a strange look to this supposedly house of God.

Being an open Chapel I also noticed that leaves of nearby trees are easily coming in and dropping on chairs and the Altar area. So that it appears as if this house of prayer is abandoned or rather deserted. Then the absence of mantles on the Altar of Sacrifice reminds me of the Good Friday Liturgy.

Viewing some University buildings from the Chapel stairs
Please don't misunderstand me. I love my Alma Mater. I'm writing this not to criticize but in order to express my hope that this Chapel shall be properly taken cared of and will truly appear as a House of Prayer and Worship rather than an empty place. The beauty and greatness and the meaning of a Chapel is the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. I hope that the Eucharistic Lord will be truly shrined right at the center of that Chapel so that the students will come to pray, to give thanks, to express their petitions and worries and to gain wisdom from the Lord and Master of the Universe.
The Pews at the Right Side
The Pews at the left side
The Modern Artworks at the side of the Altar
The Lectern
The Large Image of the Resurrection and the Celebrants Chairs
The Altar
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6 comments:

  1. Uggh. Just why? I really hope they scrap the altar altogether, get rid of the modern art, but a crucifix behind the new altar, below which will rest the Tabernacle - and oh so many more changes...

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  2. Dear Michael,

    You are right. The Tabernacle and the Cross must be at the center of the Altar and the artworks must clearly depict what they are supposed to represent not a vague brushes of paint that doesn't ignite the faith or doesn't move the heart to proper adoration of God.

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  5. Good day Fr. Abe, viewing the pictures and reading your captions, does reminds of a chapel in Glorietta, Makati. Almost the same structure but this one used to be in the middle of a pond. I am not sure if it is still there, its has been awhile since I left. At the same time it also reminds me of a church where I used to go when I was a uni student at Phil Christian University in Malate, the Sta Cruz Church (Blessed Sacrament's order I think)is that, dim, cold, lots of dark colors, even the main altar, but you know I love going there, rather than the very popular church across the road, the Quiapo church. I think it helps me a lot, that when I step into a church I make sure that I found God there, my intention is to commune with Him, and amazingly I always do. I do agree with your opinion though about this one. It is sad, also, is there any hints (at all) about St Thomas Aquinas? I like some of his philisophies you know, Their campus in the city Father is just beside St Rafael's cathedral anyway. May I also add that the best Blessed Sacrament shine that I have been is the one at St Martin de Porre's church in United Paranaque I, it is also in the basement of the Church, but boy! it is so serene. Sorry Father this is longer than I thought.

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  6. Dear Barok,

    The reason why you successfully found Christ even in Chapels tainted with modernism and dark and cold, etc. because the Lord opens the door to all those who seek him. That is the reason why when we are in situations wherein the Chapel or Parish Church where we belong are not in accord with the liturgical architecture we are still called to respect it and find Christ in it. This is not to accept modernism but as Catholics we must find Christ in a garden or in a desert, in catacombs or in Cathedrals, in the colliseum or in guillotine.

    In some of our convent chapels, there are some that I don't like but still I pray in there and find the presence of God.

    Yes, I've been in the Legazpi campus of the Aquinas University near St. Rafael Church. Actually, I already featured in this Blog the St. Rafael Parish. You can find it here.

    God bless you always.

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