The Lovely New Church in Westgrove Heights & My Call To Prayer

St. Benedict Church, Ayala Westgrove Heights, Silang, Cavite.

Some churches are grand and flamboyant, they announce their presence with their height and embellishments. The gargoyled Notre Dame in Paris and the gaudy (pun intended) Sagrada Familia in Barcelona come to mind. They are majestic edifices that excite and overwhelm.  Then, there are those churches that are subtle, stately, and subdued. They quietly work their way into your consciousness, making you succumb through gentle persuasion.  The recently completed St. Benedict church at Ayala Westgrove Heights is one such church, and when I visited it for the first time this weekend, I found myself praying a bit  longer than I originally intended.

The courtyard and the church's austere facade.

The elegant church sits right by the entrance gates to Westgrove. Its whitewashed walls and tiled roof are immaculately clean, betraying the church's young age. In terms of lay-out and general-feel, however, it is traditional and classic. It is reminiscent of serene Carmelite convent churches, similarly structured with inviting courtyards.  But it is a suitably updated interpretation, a successful mix of the old and new, with clean modern lines, and effective use of repetition of circles and angles.

The nave and the main aisle.

It seems like a perfect size for a wedding: grand enough for a dramatic walk down the aisle, but small enough to feel like an intimate gathering of family and friends.  Oliver and I found the baptistry appealing. IF we'd have another child (dear God in case you're listening, just to clarify, I am not asking for a third child...yet), it would be nice to hold our next baptism here.  I can just imagine how solemn it would be.  We'd invite family and friends to take a short drive out of Manila for a nice week-end lunch in one of the restaurant rows in nearby Santa Rosa, or even scenic Tagaytay, and enjoy a pleasant breather from the mega city's pollution and congestion.  I imagine, the church's calming architecture will be worth the drive.

The Baptistry.

The altar, in particular, is peculiarly compelling in its minimalism. A lone figure dominates the altar, Christ on a cross standing on an awesome solid block of hard wood. Behind the cross is a dome,  ingeniously repositioned on its side, a refreshing departure from the usual dome on top of the altar. Covered in a gold leaf finish, the dome is visually disorienting, creating the feeling of falling into the wall, as though one were being drawn closer.  The dizzying trick played on the eyes by the dome-lain-on-its-side can be solved by focusing on one object - the Christ on the cross - which offers stability of vision.  I reflected on my life, and the confusion and dizziness I feel, and the sensation of falling - even drowning - and I think of my faith, and my need to train my eyes on Christ to achieve the balance and stability I seek. I know not the name of the architect who orchestrated this inspired moment, but if I were to meet this person in the flesh, I would say "thank you for bringing me closer to God".

The altar with the gold dome.

It's my first visit to this church, and following Filipino folk practice when visiting a new church, I came in with the intention of asking for three wishes. That simple objective gave way to a deeper meditation, as I knelt in front of the altar, I found myself in spiritual reflection. I realized how much I missed having a village church to go to regularly. In the last few years, I have been uprooted, and moved from one living arrangement to the other, and exercised a nomadic worship in various churches. I feel the burning desire to be anchored in one parish, my parish, where I can serve as a bona fide parishioner. And this church could be it! It could be my family's spiritual home in a few year's time.  Oliver bought a lot in Westgrove the year we were married, and we have hopes of building a house here.  Could Narra and Guijo grow up here? And go to church here? Do we want to move our family out of Manila? There are many factors to consider when establishing a family and choosing a lifestyle.  And having a church in the vicinity completes the picture of what I dream of as an ideal set-up for raising a Christian family.

  

Side Entrance/Exit.

The way out of the church is as inviting as the way in. One walks away on shady paths with lush vegetation, as though being escorted out with a gracious despedida.  I want to keep coming back here. This building communicates something to me, an invitation to pray, and I respond to it warmly. I am so grateful to make this lovely church's acquaintance this weekend, and I look forward to developing a deep friendship with it in years to come. See you again soon, lovely church of St. Benedict.