On October 13, 2024 I attended the fiesta mass at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in SM Makati.
SM (formerly known as Shoemart) is an iconic mall chain in the Philippines, with the Makati branch being one of its first branches. Now known as SM Supermalls, or simply SM, they have grown to 96 malls (88 in the Philippines and 8 in China) with 13 more malls under construction (5 in the Philippines and 2 in China).
When Cardinal Jose Advincula became Archbishop of Manila, he assigned Msgr. Reginald Malicdem to the chapels of SM and Landmark, which were categorized as "mission stations".
These mall chapels have truly become incredible spaces for evangelization! Congratulations to Msgr Regie Malicdem on a wonderful job making these spaces of faith truly come alive!!
It was my first time to hear mass here and I was shocked to see the overflowing crowd of massgoers. It almost felt like I was part of the crowd of 5,000 listening to Jesus!
Of course for this mass we were listening to our Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown.
The First Rreading for this day was from the book of Wisdom 7: 7-11
7 Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:
8 And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
9 Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold in comparison of her, is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay.
10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.
11 Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands.
Archbishop Brown brillianty related this reading to Our Lady - as we were celebrating the chapel fiesta for Our Lady of the Holy Rosary - explaining that Mary is the seat of wisdom as she leads us to Christ, who is wisdom.
Emphasizing that Christ is wisdom, he said, "That is where real wisdom is to be found. The most important thing is to follow the Lord. To follow Jesus to listen to Jesus. To allow Jesus to impart to us wisdom. How to live how to be a human being. He is the way the truth and the life. He is wisdom. And that's what the Catholic Church does. It gives us the wisdom of Christ."
Archbishop Brown's homilies are always so enlightening.
Happy birthday, Nuncio! And happy fiesta, SM Chapel!
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Comments