As Far Eastern University inches towards its 80th founding anniversary in January 2008, the FEU Chapel, a landmark building within the university’s four-hectare campus at the C.M. Recto Avenue area, is also celebrating its 50th year.
"The FEU Chapel is among the cluster of buildings in the campus designed by architect Felipe Mendoza in the early years of his outstanding career. He also designed the Arts Building and the FEU Hospital which had to be torn down some years ago," recalls Dr. Lourdes R. Montinola, chair, FEU board of Trustees.
Dr. Montinola recalls that the FEU Chapel took two years to build and was inaugurated on Dec. 8, 1957 during which it was also blessed by then Manila Archbishop Rufino J. Santos (who would later be named cardinal), with former first lady Luz B. Magsaysay and then-Education Secretary Felipe Mendoza as principal sponsors.
"The chapel is, of course, meant primarily for the spiritual development and uplift of the students and the faculty. But, then, it has secondarily become a repository of art and culture since it houses a Station of the Cross mural of Carlos "Botong" Francisco, a National Artist for Painting. The image of the crucified Christ on the altar was also painted by him. There is also a mosaic image of Our Lady of Fatima at the chapel’s façade whose original design was also by Botong. So when one visits the chapel, he does not only commune with God but also with the arts," says Dr. Montinola.
To celebrate the FEU Chapel’s 50th anniversary, special holy masses to be celebrated by bishops will be held from December 3 to 8, 2007.
On December 3 (Monday), Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. will be the celebrant. The next day, it will be Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle. On December 5, the archbishop of Lipa, Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, will say the mass. Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes will be the celebrant on December 6.
His Eminence, Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, will be the celebrant on December 7. The bishop-prelate emeritus of Ipil, Most. Rev. Federico Escaler, SJ, will say the holy mass on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
With its elevated (by 5 feet) altar area, the FEU Chapel can seat about 300 people. It has spacious choir loft, an adoration chapel, and seminar rooms at the back. The façade also features huge Romanesque glass windows that give the interiors calm and natural illumination from the outside.
Several church-oriented student organizations have offices at the back of the chapel. Their activities are coordinated by the Archdiocese of Manila’s Campus Ministry and the University’s Office of Student Affairs and Community Services.
For more information, visit www.feu.edu.ph.
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