We visited my in-laws’ yesterday and ended up going to mass at Gateway Mall after I saw a sign announcing the mass schedules when Tim and I went to get his books, given by a kind, generous fellow homeschool mom based in the US.
During the mass, which was held at the Gateway Suites Topaz Ballroom (formerly the Mandarin Oriental), I was inspired to try to come up with a compilation of posts about Sunday Mass in malls (or other places outside the traditional church buildings). What do you guys think about that? (Feel free to comment below).
Anyway, apparently, Sunday Mass is celebrated at Gateway Mall at 11am at Cinema 4, and 5pm and 6.30pm at Gateway Suites, which is located on the same floor as the cinemas.
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| The entrance to Gateway Suites |
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| They used up all 4 rooms/divisions of the Topaz Ballroom for the Mass |
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| The inside of the Topaz Ballroom, right after Mass |
It was pretty cool to attend mass in a ballroom. 🙂 But as usual, I was a little bit irked by those mass-goers who came in shorts and attire deemed “improper” for mass. Of course, there may have been lots of people who chose to attend mass at the mall, at the “spur of the moment,” so whatever they wore for cruising at the mall ended up being their mass attire as well.
Still, it would be really nice if people dressed respectfully when attending Holy Mass. They don’t call it “holy” for nothing right? 😉
Times like these, I miss Timor, where even the poorest of people get that going to Church means looking one’s best and preparing properly to receive Jesus’ body in the form of the Holy Eucharist. Even if people have to walk along dusty roads for 30 minutes or more to get to the nearest church, they would still do so even if they were dressed in dresses or blouses and skirts (for the ladies), and long-sleeved or polo shirts (for the men).
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| See the couple in the middle? They are Timorese, and what they are wearing, minus the coat and tie for the man, are typical Mass attire for the Timorese. Cool huh? |
Anyway, if ever you’re planning to be at the Araneta Center on a Sunday and want to go to mass there, here are the mass schedules, taken from Gateway Mall’s events page:
Sunday Mass
Araneta Coliseum 11AM
Gateway Mall 11AM*, 5PM & 6:30PM *(I added the 11AM schedule)
Farmers Plaza 5:30PM
Ali Mall 6PM
If you are planning to go to mass while you’re out window shopping or “mall-ing” with your family, please do try to dress up enough to make Jesus feel as if He’s really important to you. *winks* After all, you wouldn’t go for an audience with England’s Prince William and his wife dressed up in a short skirt with plunging necklines right?
Don’t get me wrong though! I may sound prudish or conservative.. but I am just telling things from my point of view. Because most of the time, our outer appearance reflects how we truly feel deep inside. Right?
– From a fellow struggling, sinful Catholic mom
I don’t approve of masses at malls, especially those that are held on the mall’s corridors. If the mall want to have masses at malls then they should provide a decent place for the mass not just some corridors or walkways.
Catholics should be encouraged to visit God in the church.
Hi Ishmael! Thanks for your comment. Of course, it is the BEST for all Catholics to attend mass in the Church, and malls at masses SHOULD be in a proper place where solemnity can be observed. However, I am also of the thought that we must also strive to bring GOD where the people are. 🙂 Let’s pray for our fellow Catholics and our Church! Godbless
I hope young people will learn to dress up properly when going to church and pay attention even for an hour only. No talking with each other. My apology if i may add, i really want to go to high end church coz people are more decent, respectable of time meaning coming on church on time. And quiet where you can listen attentively to the homily until the very end without distractions. Just want to attend mass where i can be quiet and listen to the word of God. Thank you