THE New Gateway Mall 2 is not just a new shopping and lifestyle attraction at the Araneta City but is also the latest establishment to open a religious destination.
As life in the metropolis can be stressful due to the fast-paced, hustle-and-bustle type of living, people will most certainly tend to seek solace, spiritual renewal, and yearn for a place of quiet reflection so they can talk to the Almighty One in peace.
And this is what the newly opened Sagrada Familia Church in Araneta City offers. Alone atop the highly anticipated New Gateway Mall 2, this church provides a welcome spiritual retreat for people from all walks of life right at the very heart of Metro Manila.
“The Sagrada Familia Church is a place where we can gather and find quiet solace from our worries while in God’s embrace. We have made sure that it is designed to bring you a sense of peace amid the hectic pace of the metro,” says Antonio Mardo, SVP for Operations of Araneta City.
The Sagrada Familia Church is a hard-to-miss impressive structure. The church takes an apt inspiration from the mitre, a traditional headwear worn by senior officials of the Catholic Church like bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and of course, the Pope. The Church is fully airconditioned and can comfortably fit up to 1,000 worshippers at a time.
It highlights an all-white interior, inspired by The Oculus in New York City, to provide a calming backdrop for contemplation and meditation. It has modern glass walls to invite natural light in, illuminating the space and imparting a serene ambiance that will leave one feeling renewed.
It boasts of a high ceiling design that features a huge hanging cross created by sculptor Wilfredo Layug. It is suspended above an altar that was blessed recently by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in a special Eucharistic celebration.
Worshippers are greeted with lush greenery as they make their way in or out of Sagrada Familia Church. Surrounding the church is a landscaped Sensory Garden, a restorative pocket of nature filled with water elements, herbal plants, and blooming flowers. The garden also provides a quiet and serene respite anytime of the day with its scenic vistas of the Metro Manila skyline and Manila Bay beyond.
“Often, we find ourselves looking for a place where we can center ourselves, and focus on all of the good things that God has bestowed upon us. The Sagrada Familia Church promises to be a sanctuary for you and your soul anytime you need it,” Mardo added.
Sagrada Familia Church is open daily starting September 24 with masses on Mondays to Saturdays at 12 pm and 5 pm; and on Sundays at 10:15 am, 11:30 am, 5 pm, and 6:30 pm. It is under the management of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Diocese of Cubao.
Whether you’re seeking a quiet spot for reflection and a peaceful escape from workaday life, the Sagrada
Familia Church at the New Gateway Mall 2 is there to help you find your inner peace and connect with your spirituality.