This study examines whether sacred spaces in shopping malls function as exceptions or extensions. While malls embody key attributes of non-places like transience, anonymity, and functional circulation (Augé, 1995), this paper investigates the paradox of Catholic chapels within highly commercialized environments. Through ethnographic fieldwork, participant observations, and interviews, this study analyzes how Catholic chapels in Southeast Asian malls mediate between the sacred and the profane, particularly in Manila and Surabaya. The key findings suggest that while mall chapels exhibit features of non-places, they also challenge this framework by fostering new forms of communal religious experience. Furthermore, these spaces accommodate a dynamic, mobile urban population, offering a site for spiritual engagement that operates within, rather than outside, supermodern commercial spaces. By highlighting factors such as easy access to chapels, the role of convenience in religious practice, and how commercial and sacred spaces overlap, this paper offers a nuanced understanding of how Catholicism in Southeast Asia negotiates its presence in urban landscapes. This research also contributes to broader discussions on the evolving nature of sacredness.
This study explores whether Catholic chapels in shopping malls serve as exceptions or extensions of commercial spaces. While malls are often seen as non-places characterized by transience and anonymity (Augé, 1995), the presence of chapels within them presents a paradox. Through ethnographic research in Manila and Surabaya, this study examines how these chapels mediate between the sacred and the profane.
Findings suggest that while mall chapels share features of non-places, they also foster communal religious experiences, accommodating a mobile urban population. Their accessibility and convenience make them unique spaces where commercial and sacred realms overlap. Rather than existing outside modern consumer environments, these chapels integrate spiritual engagement into everyday urban life. This research contributes to broader discussions on the evolving nature of sacredness and how Catholicism in Southeast Asia adapts to contemporary urban landscapes.