National Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Posted on February 11, 2007
Filed Under Faith and Spirituality, Information, Thoughts | Viewed 18229 times

Today, I met with my good friends of more than 20 years, Maripe and Merle. And a different kind of tour we had! We went to the National Shrine of St. Therese of Lisseux (or St. Therese of the Child Jesus). I didn’t realize that a shrine so huge, all of 6,200 sq m sitting by the Villamor Air Base, across NAIA 3, ever existed. I realized that this was the cross-shaped edifice one sees across the new airport, when one’s plane makes a landing. It could be a landmark in future.

I was amazed. Envisioned to be the center of devotion to St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Asia, the Shrine is well-equipped with features and amenities that make a celebration of faith truly enriching. Consider this:

center for St. Therese relics

stained glass featuring highlights of St. Therese’s life (itself a museum)

ecclesiastical museum

adoration chapel

family prayer room

complete with video and audio capacities

fully air conditioned

sound-proof

seating capacity: 1,800 seats

souvenir shop and a cafe

Where can you find, at least in Asia, an ultramodern shrine, fully-airconditioned, 3 level, with 42” plasma TV for the psalms and announcements.The church area itself has a sitting capacity of 1,800 people. Gee, a bride who will walk down its aisle would need to walk 50 meters (yes, 50 meters) from the church door to the altar, to display gown and all in her beaming radiance.

And listen to this, atop the main entrance of the church (3rd level) is what is called the family, where mothers with young children could sit, separated by glass, without disturbing other church goers.

It is entirely sound proof, such that no matter how many airplanes or helicopters fly over the area, or perhaps, even a coup attack, the noise would not be heard inside the shrine.

Why, it will even become a tourist area in future.

It’s more than halfway complete, I heard that at least the 2nd level (the church) will be turned over to the parish in May 2007.To finance such a magnificent piece of architecture, the people behind the project (the diocese itself and Magnificent Ventures thought of including a columbary or ossuary (remember the crypts of long time ago?), all of 38,000 units. In the olden times, only priests and religious were granted the privilege to be buried in churches, but in 1963, an edict from the Vatican allowed the remains of lay people to be kept in church, including cremation.

Nowadays, the religious and the lay share the same privilege. Indeed, rules change. It is has become more practical to cremate the beloved departed, instead of burying them. Burial entails a lot of money, for the coffin, for a make over (mascara and lipstick, please), the wake, and many others.

Oh, thinking about all this is makes me shudder. But it is inevitable, death comes, and when it comes, it is like a thief in the night, so they say. Would we like to be caught unaware, I mean, for all that we care, we’re gone, but would we like our loved ones to be caught unaware. Reminds me of Annamanila’s interesting post “of living wills and the will to live”.Loved ones’ remains (or my remains for that matter) might as well be placed in a columbarium that is elegant, practical and a most ideal sanctuary. The columbary has:

imported vaults and niches

each vault can accommodate 4 urns

remembering chapel where daily masses are held

2 wake chapels

a virtual video library, which maintains videos and images of loved ones, that can be viewed anytime

security access card to ensure safety and privacy

perpetual maintenance fund

Why, it even looks like a hotel, this time not for the living, complete with a reception area and other amenities. By the way, the Marriott Hotel is soon to rise right across the Shrine. As a business venture, it sounds a good investment. I am not excited to die but at least I take comfort to the thought that when I die, I have options of an elegant and opulent resting place.

We all deserve to have such a magnificent Shrine. Therefore, I promised dear friend Maripe that I would write about this different kind of trip. Being an advocate of St. Therese, and with a lot of time on my hands, I have agreed to help her sell columbary units and solicit donations for the Shrine. She has promised me, not my own free columbary unit (she said I have to buy one), but perpetual prayers. A lot of columbary units have been sold, but there are still many units available, either in the airconditioned area or al fresco. Not bad. By the way, the columbary units are not for Catholics and Christians alone, they are available to everyone. Any real estate marketing company would make a hit out of this edifice. For those interested, you may call me at 433 5474, or text me at 0915 433 3090, or send an email using the form below.

Comments

20 Responses to “National Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus”

Kyels on February 11th, 2007 1:17 am

Just wondering, where is it located at?

(:

I’ve gotta visit this shrine when I am there again in Pinas.
noemi on February 11th, 2007 9:21 am

we live so near the National Shrine but in a month’s time we will be moving out. I prefer to go to a smaller church. Too many people can ruin my thoughts.
nao on February 11th, 2007 9:26 am

yeah.. it looks more of a reception in a hotel, so classy. Happy weekend Dine
carey on February 11th, 2007 2:38 pm

i like the idea of the family area, while i dont mind kids running around, some people do get distracted.
yes, i’m sure it will be a tourist spot in the future, with its size and modern design.
thanks for sharing this sexy mom.
maripe juliano on February 12th, 2007 11:45 am

Dine
Thanks for your help in promoting the Shrine of St Therese. May I add that St Therese’s mission was her “little way”. In her book “Story of a Soul” is a lesson in how to live this “way of trust and absolute surrender”. This book is St Therese’s legacy to the world, her personal message to “little ones”.
Her teachings are inspiration to me to aspire to be humble always.
God bless
ann on February 12th, 2007 4:49 pm

I am not familiar with that Shrine too, but looking forward to visit the place when we come home.

Thanks for your comment. I’m flattered that you’re reading my blog.
Toe on February 13th, 2007 10:39 am

Oh, I want to go there. Thanks for this Sexy Mom. I’m a devotee of St. Therese of Lisieux. I never would have heard of this if you didn’t blog about it.
jangelo on February 23rd, 2007 11:46 am

I see dead people!
Olivia Dizon on March 18th, 2007 12:47 pm

Hi Dine! In behalf of Magnificat Ventures Corporation, I would like to thank you for featuring the Shrine of St. Therese in your blog and introducing the Shrine to your blog readers. We will soon be holding its Solemn Dedication and Consecration this May 17 on the occasion of her Canonization day. From that day on, the Shrine will officially be open to serve the Catholic community, especially the devotees of St. Therese. Hope to see you there. Again, thank you and happy selling!
Jason Magbanua | Wedding Videographer » Blog Archive » Stella and Randy: Shrine of St. Therese (Villamor) on June 25th, 2007 9:47 am

[...] of what? Shrine of where? It’s the spankin’ new church near Villamor Air [...]
Jeric on July 31st, 2007 3:49 pm

Our family often pass by NAIA 3 and I didn’t know that this thing exists there. Is it open to the public? I would suggest dropping by the shrine whenever we pass by the area again.
Jeric on July 31st, 2007 3:54 pm

Waaiiit… I think I saw some portion of the shrine and I mistakenly referred to it as an abandoned church.
Who among the St. Teresas wrote this beautiful poem? : The D Spot on October 1st, 2007 9:01 am

[...] 1 October, is the feast day of St. Therese of Liseux (also known as Teresa of the Infant Jesus, Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower, and the [...]
Calistus D'souza on December 16th, 2007 4:59 am

Please let me know as to where this shrine is located in Cebu as I would like to visit this shrine on my visit to Philippine i.e. Cebu.

Thank you.
Bhaby on March 27th, 2008 1:22 pm

where can i locate this shrine of st therese
Angie on March 31st, 2008 6:10 pm

My grandfather’s urn was buried there at the back of the Church in the Columbarium..It’s a very peaceful place..The church is so big and beautiful..Its located at the Villamor Airbase near NAIA 3 in Pasay City..
Josie V. Soriano on June 3rd, 2008 11:58 am

I just want to know if you are accepting agents to market your vaults. I am connected wlth a company marketing memorial plans.I am interested to include the price of your vaults to our memeorial plan. I that possible.Any contact number?
Jason Magbanua’s Weddings–Breathe of Fresh Air : The D Spot on August 1st, 2008 8:51 am

[...] June 2007 when he linked one of my posts in relation to the Shrine of St. Therese, I have always watched his wonderful videos. And they never failed to amaze me. One of them was the [...]
camille on August 5th, 2008 12:24 pm

I’m just thinking if you are practicing CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
If yes, what do you do?
1 October–Feast of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, The Little Flower of Jesus : The D Spot on October 2nd, 2008 2:28 pm

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