Konted's Make My Day 2: Katipunan

Saturday, 17 May 2014

The Church Of Gesu At The Ateneo

The Church of Gesu At The Ateneo

The native bamboos sway a little bit as a gush of wind is felt in my direction. Not unusual on a summer day. I take a narrow brick path leading to a short bridge that opens to a reserve planted to a variety of trees and ornamental plants. I find myself near a cluster of halls in an area considered as the highest point of what is dubbed as Loyola Heights. Residence Halls, which include Cervini Hall, Eliazo Hall and the University Dormitory, are indicated on a tin signage hanging at a post. I decide to take another path that leads me back to the main road. From here, I can see a white-painted structure with a cross visible even from afar. It is the Church of Gesu located right inside the wide Ateneo De Manila Campus at Loyola Heights in Quezon City.

Resilient bamboos and other plants still thrive inside the Ateneo campus in Loyola Heights.

A short, narrow bridge leading to the dormitories. Students still use this as a short cut to the other buildings in the area.

A brick walkway leading to the Residence Halls

Residence Halls include Cervini Hall, Eliazo Hall and the University Dorm.

The main road that connects the Grade School zone to the College and High School areas and other institutes of learning. Ateneo has adopted the one-way traffic scheme within the 83-hectare campus to ease traffic during peak hours.

The Church of Gesu stands at an area considered as the highest point within the vast Ateneo campus. The church and the gardens surrounding it cover approximately one hectare of prime land.

With a triangular shape that covers an area of about one hectare, the Church of Gesu symbolically represents the Holy Trinity, that is, the three persons in one God concept. The extraordinary design makes it an eye catcher. As one drives through the main road from Gate 3, the Church of Gesu is at the eastern end of the road. A statue of the Sacred Heart stands right in front. A little bit to the right is the bell tower. The church is open on all sides except the eastern section where the main altar is located.

The cross can be seen as far as Katipunan Avenue.

The Church of Gesu facing west

The statue of the Sacred Heart in front of the church. The hill where it stands is also called Sacred Heart Hill.

Matthew 11:28

The church is open to everybody.

Main entrance of church.

Artistically designed

Front area of the church and the numerous trees surrounding the church.

Main entrance at the western side as viewed from inside the church. Across is Bellarmine Field.

The bell tower at the right side of the church. It has a set of bells that play beautiful music at designated hours. Bells are also rung as reminders to the faithful of significant events.

The construction of the bell tower and the installation of the mechanism of the Carillon are special projects of Class 56/60/64 as indicated in this bronze plaque. Class members call themselves The Bell Ringers of Gesu.

The Church of Gesu is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a congregation which has been administratively running the premier school since its establishment in 1859. Aside from the unusual shape of the church structure, a main attraction is the big cross that hangs atop the main altar. It is a figure of Christ still suffering on the cross and gazing towards heaven. As one enters through the western side, which is the main entrance, a big rock with water gently flowing down serves as the church stoup where one dips his fingers and makes the sign of the cross. Serving as background are stained glasses depicting the passion and death of Christ. A great part of the ceiling is made in such a way that the skies can be seen from inside the church.

Water gently flows down this big rock serving as stoup where churchgoers dip their fingers and make the sign of the cross.

Church interior

Church's high ceiling

The main altar

The Crucified Christ is shown looking upwards, talking to His Father.

Wooden statues of Christ

Natural light is allowed inside the church through a specially-designed ceiling.

The northern side ceiling of church

The center aisle as viewed from the main altar

A wooden station of the cross

There is enough time to say a short prayer. I continue taking shots and continue asking questions whenever I see a guard or a utility man. I look at my camera. A red light is flashing, indicating that battery power is getting weak. Not now, not here, please. I cross the main road where huge acacia trees abound and walk through the open space of Bellarmine Field. Ateneo campus still has that verdant green and is orderly and conducive to learning. I look again at the Church of Gesu. It is really awesome. It is perhaps Ateneo's most beautiful landmark.

- Konted

The Bellarmine Field as seen from the western side of the church. Bellarmine Field is where students gather in celebration of significant court victories in the UAAP.

The triangular shape of the church is highlighted.

A garden at the northern side of the church

It depicts the Agony in the Garden.

Northern side entrance of the church

Strict silence is observed.

Walkway leading to nearby buildings.

View of Church of Gesu from the western end of Bellarmine Field.

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Sunday, 27 April 2014

Santa Maria della Strada Church: Cardinal Sin's Legacy

Santa Maria della Strada Church: Cardinal Sin's Legacy

Traffic was not moving that particular afternoon along the northbound lane of Katipunan Avenue. A cargo truck sideswiped a taxicab, which in turn, hit two other vehicles. Traffic enforcers were investigating and were in the process of untangling the traffic buildup. I reckoned it would take more than an hour and, upon seeing a circular church at the right side of the road, slowly and, little by little, I moved to that direction, parked under the shade of an acacia tree, made some stretching and walked inside the church compound. The Church's name is Santa Maria della Strada Parish.

Santa Maria della Strada Church in Pansol, Quezon City is named after the miraculous Our Lady of the Way, the patroness of the the Society of Jesus whose founder, St. Ignatius de Loyola, used to pray at its shrine in Italy. With its sides open, allowing fresh air and, at the same time, getting rid of noxious air, the church serves the spiritual needs of residents of La Vista, Xavierville, Alta Vista, Pansol and Balara, among others. The man responsible for its establishment as a parish in 1981 was the eminent Cardinal Sin who immediately acted on the petition of the parishioners for a new parish. First parish priest was Monsignor Patricio Lim who served for more than 20 years.

While most churches, notably those with Gothic and Baroque styles, have their bells up high a tower, Santa Maria della Strada Church has its bells within a structure constructed separately from the main edifice of the church. The steel bell tower stands to the left of the church, which is near the administration offices. At its right is a colombarium with a limited number of niches. It was so artistically designed that it looks like a small park. There are native bamboos that enhance the beauty and serenity of the place.

An hour lapsed, but traffic was still heavy. Such has always been the traffic situation in that area of Katipunan which is considered as one of the most dangerous traffic black spots in Metro Manila. So critical is the situation along Katipunan that the MMDA made a commitment to field about 2,000 traffic enforcers for that area alone. It is surprising why Katipunan, where there is a heavy concentration of schools and students, was made part of the much ballyhooed Circumferential Road. But, then, where? It was half an hour later that I made it to the Quezon Memorial Circle. With an overheated engine.

- Konted

Santa Maria della Strada is at the right side of Katipunan Avenue when you are northbound, several meters after the main gate of La Vista in Quezon City. It is near Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University.

The sides are open, allowing cool, fresh air to circulate inside the church.

The beautiful garden in front of the church.

Statue of Madonna della Strada

The steel bell tower of the church erected separately from the church's structure.

There is balance or symmetry in the landscaping of the areas surrounding the church.

There are small shops and offices near the entrance of the church.

The main entrance of Santa Maria della Strada Church. There are other side entrances.

Area where you light candles and say a little prayer or make petitions.

White is the balance of all colors. It can be used at any ritual.

Church's interior

The main altar. The icons are covered with purple linen in observance of Holy Week.

The marble altar table was used by Pope John II during the canonization of San Lorenzo de Ruiz. The life-size Crucifix above the main altar has a brown Christ (covered by linen in observance of Holy Week).