Open for Business on Jesus Street

In Thu Duc district right on the border with Binh Thanh is a curious little street. It’s a dead end that runs off the busy dual carriageway running out to the Hanoi Highway. On the face of it it’s much the same as any other tiny back street, the difference being, this appears to belong to God. At the end of this rather tiny cul de sac is an enormous church that is either being built or extended, it’s hard to say and none of the locals could speak English.

The view from the front gives no clue to what is going on inside
The view from the front gives no hint as to what is going on around the back. There is no gable wall to the rear, leaving a huge gaping opening that seems to defy gravity. There is enormous building work being carried on here and yet the front is finished and boasting a brand new lick of paint. The clock is in place, the windows are glazed and there is the ubiquitous statue of the Madonna.

This just appears to be defying gravity
In the grounds of this cavernous house of worship there is a café and a couple of shops selling religious iconry. But in the street leading down to the church there are at least another dozens shops all dedicated to religious products. It is an incredible sort of religious market street.

Incredible work, though quite where you put it, escapes me
Carvings of Christ and the Madonna are everywhere. Big ones small ones and one huge one of Christ's head. It all seems rather incongruous among the surrounding poverty stricken area.

Open for business
I am not a religious person but the architecture interests me. It is though, strange to my mind that no matter how poor a country is and no matter how poor its people are, they will always find money for religion. What is being built here could probably house a few hundred, but they will continue living in their bare, basic small dwellings and turn up on Sundays when it’s finished.

Another one of the shops on Jesus Street
There is no doubt, this is going to be some structure when it is eventually finished. I’ll keep calling in over the coming months to see how they are getting on. In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the roof continues to defy gravity.

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