Solemn blessing of the Espacio Tower and its chapel by Cardinal Rouco Varela

On Wednesday, February 3rd, the Chairman of the Episcopal Conference and Cardinal Archbisop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, solemnly blessed the Espacio Tower and the Catholic worship chapel, found on the 33rd floor of the building, where the Eucharist has been celebrated since November 3rd last year. Accompanying the Cardenal in the moving act were the Board of Directors of the Villa Mir Group all together as well as numerous managers and employees of the Group’s companies and other companies based in the Tower.

Cardenal Rouco’s solemn blessing of the Tower took place in the main lobby on the ground floor. He went on to bless the new chapel and celebrate the holy Mass, presided over by the Cardenal and cocelebrated by four other priests with more than 200 people attending.

The idea of this chapel originated spontaneously from a group of people who work in the building, owned by the Villar Mir Group. The management of the Group, with its president and founder Juan-Miguel Villar Mir at the head, took up the idea enthusiastically, promoting and financing the project. It has been excellently received by those who work in the tower and the chapel is frequently full during the various worship services held there.

A beautiful space was assigned for its construction, with views overlooking the north of the capital and the sierra. The corresponding authorisation was sought from the Madrid Archbisopric, who have supported the iniciative to the utmost, granting the right to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist which allows the Most Holy to be permantly in the tower.

The guidelines of the Archbishopric for the design and the construction were strictly followed, both in the of the layout of the space and in all things relating to the Liturgy.

It was also the Archbishopric who assigned the priest, who comes from a neighbouring parish, acting as chaplain of the Catholic community created around this chapel who celebrate Holy Mass daily.

The Espacio Tower is located at the northern end of Paseo de la Castellana in the capital’s new business and financial centre known as Cuatro Torres. It is a 236m-high building with 57 floors above ground, totalling 74,000 square metres, and six floors bleow ground with parking for 1,300 cars.

The construction of the chapel is one of the latest initiatives set up in the Espacio Tower. It is open from 8 am to 10 pm from Monday to Friday, with Mass being held every day at 8.30 am except for on Wednesdays when it is held at 2.05 pm. The chapel is open for people who work in the building, who belong to the Villar Mir Group, or to any of the companies with premises there. There are, however, many people from Madrid not connected to the Tower to whom access to the chapel has been granted, for them to be able to see it and to attend Mass there.

Although at its conception, no one planned on beating any records, as it happens, the chapel, located on the 33rd floor at a height of 135 m above groud level, is the highest in the world in relation to ground level on which the Tower lies.