Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life — Attraction in Pasay

The church is right in the middle of the vast SM Mall of Asia commercial complex. It’s a welcome sight and it brings a good feeling to see that a prime commercial space is allotted to a place of worship. Below the church is a spacious formation center as well as a small room that houses Saint John Paul II artifacts. Just a few trivia about the shrine: The name of the church was inspired by the message of then, Pope John Paul II during the World Youth Congress held in the country in 1995. It is primarily intended to be a center for the young people and thus, is called Pope John II Youth Center. The Shrine and Youth Center is a project of His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, the Archbishop of Manila at that time. Cardinal Sin had the cornerstone blessed by the Holy Father and is now enclosed in a glass at the center of the...

The first time we attended Mass in this Church was in 2002. The church was like a lone oasis in the middle of the desert- that was when MOA was still under construction in the massive Pasay reclamation area. The parking areas then were so vast that more than two decades later, huge buildings sprouted on that spot, already surrounding the church. Construction boom and widespread commercialism had greatly changed the face of the reclamation area yet this church remains the same- solemn and welcoming, conducive to prayer, meditation, and worship. Good thing that there are huge ceiling fans for ventilation yet there is also the relaxing sea breeze from the Manila Bay. A Segunda Mana drop-off box can also be found in one corner of the church should you wish to donate in kind to Caritas Manila, the Catholic Church's...

In Father's homily for Easter Sunday, Mar31 10:30am Mass, he joked that, and Im paraphrasing, Jesus' resurrection was revealed to women because news would spread faster. "May marites na dati pa" I thought he would say he was kidding and explain it better, but he didnt. On the other hand, Pope Francis' prayer intention this April is for the role of women. Pope said, "Let us not deprive women of their voice." I know father was just joking, but I hope priests are better prepared for homilies, like Father Tootsie. I would not want my daughter to think that good news was revealed to women because they gossip, but because the voice of social outcasts matter, and Jesus is the Savior, not just of the Jews, of men, but everyone,...