THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF CASABLANCA
INTRODUCTION
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Casablanca is in every way the historical bookmark of a saga whose pages dedicated to tolerance and living together have been written in pure gold. Return to its origins, its evolution and its recent renovation.
The Sacred Heart Church is a former Catholic shrine located in Casablanca. Built in 1930 by the architect Paul Tournon, winner of the famous Prix de Rome, in a style combining Gothic standards and Art Deco aesthetics, it is surrounded by a vast public garden: the Parc de la Ligue Arabe.
Nowadays, the old Catholic sanctuary has been completely deconsecrated and from time to time hosts cultural events and association events. But there was a time when he symbolized, in himself, all the spirit of contemplation and tolerance which has long made Casablanca the city of all confluences.
Founded in 1930 to serve as the main place of worship for the Catholic community, which at the time brought together nearly 40,000 people, the Sacré-Cœur church remains a true bookmark of an era that can be described as ‘epic. But it should be noted that since Casablanca is not a bishopric, this so-called Sacré-Cœur temple has long been designated as a “cathedral” because of its imposing appearance.
But there is something, in any case, its architectural construction takes up, with a few details, the aesthetics of the most prominent European Gothic cathedrals, giving this Art Deco building an indisputable monumentality. Art Deco is, let us remember, a global artistic movement which gradually emerged in the 1910s and reached its peak in the 1920s, before declining, little by little, from 1930.
At that time and on a national scale, this church was unique in every sense of the word. Especially if we know that it was only after the Kingdom’s Independence, in 1956, that the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral was erected in Tangier.
ARCHITECTURE THAT SOOTHES SOULS
The Catholic sanctuary of the Sacred Heart is designed according to a basilical plan with a quintuple nave. The barrel-vaulted nave is formed of eleven bays on two levels: the lower part is covered with large semicircular arches of disproportionate height, while the upper part is crossed by a series of narrow bays. The reduced height of the vaults in the side aisles reinforces the majestic character of the building.
The nave is extended by a barrel apse without a portico. Large rectangular windows allow daylight to be seen through modernist stained glass windows whose shades oscillate between bright red and indigo blue.
The facade of the building is even more reminiscent of the great European cathedrals: concrete buttresses with an essentially decorative function punctuate the nave, while the facade is framed by two rectangular towers.
The facade, strictly speaking, is distinguished by a certain sobriety, with a triple portal, blind arcades and a series of semi-circular bays with a complex weave, largely imbued with oriental moucharabiehs.
THE CULTURAL RENAISSANCE OF THE SACRED HEART
After eight years of restoration work, the church known as the Cathedral of the Sacré-Cœur is reborn from its apse.
The inauguration ceremony of this temple took place on November 18, in the presence of Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and Nabila Rmili, president of the municipality of Casablanca. Converted into a proper cultural space, the church has undergone various developments for a total investment of 48 million USD. The management of this project was entrusted to SDL Casa-Patrimoine.
In addition, not more than a fortnight ago, a cultural event took place there with pomp and pomp. In collaboration with Casablanca Events and Animation, the territorial brand Wecasablanca, and with the support of Platinum sponsor, the National Lottery (La SGLN), the Moroccan Association of Andalusian Music (AMMA) organized a concert entitled “Al Ala”, dedicated to the musical instruments of Andalusian music. The concert, which was held at the old Sacré-Cœur church on February 24, was rich in notes, colors and memories. The Moroccan Association of Andalusian Music (AMMA) animated the event with the captivating melodies of Moroccan Andalusian music.
The Andalusian Orchestra of Fez, led by the great maestro Mohamed Briouel, accompanied the public on a sound journey entitled “Al Istihlal”, highlighting the masterpieces of Moroccan Andalusian music.
THE HISTORY OF CHURCHES IN MOROCCO
The very first churches and cathedrals in Moroccan history saw British and American priests and bishops parade behind their ambos (note: these desks placed at the entrance to the choir in a church). Why? A little historical flashback is in order…
As the Roman Empire did with Latin, the British Empire deployed its power, religious, cultural and economic, through a broad campaign of conquest of territories between the 17th and early 19th centuries. By establishing itself in the four corners of the globe, the Empire has, ipso facto, pushed populations to pray “In English”. But where is the connection with Morocco? We are getting there…
Making English the official language of proselytism was not the prerogative of the British. Born January 31, 1938 in Wyoming, James Gaius Watt is a high-profile American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan administration between 1981 and 1983. In addition to his diplomatic duties, he was also a Pentecostal evangelist to what we call Uncle Sam’s, ” The Revival Churches”, or the Eglises du Réveil to remain French-speaking. Excessively using the Kingdom of Morocco’s reputation as a Land of Tolerance, he supported the expansion of English-speaking evangelists in Tangier during his mandate. English thus became the language of evangelization, but not for long.
LIVING TOGETHER: NOTRE-DAME-DE-L’ASSOMPTION, STANDARD-BEARER OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Casablanca is not the only Moroccan city that houses places of worship of the Catholic religion. In Tangier, the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral is by far the historical symbol of the spirit of interreligious tolerance which has reigned for a long time in the City of the Strait. It is, in addition, the seat of the city’s archbishopric, one of the two dioceses (administrations) of the Catholic Church in the Kingdom.
Its name refers to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This edifying proof of North-South living together is also called “the Spanish cathedral” because of the large number of its Spanish-speaking faithful from Europe, Latin America and Africa and its architectural character.
Historically, the archdiocese (editor’s note: the diocese of an archbishop) of Tangier comes from the Diocese of Morocco, created in 1469 and canonically (or ecclesiastically) erected on November 14, 1956 by Pope Pius XII. It had originally been built as an apostolic prefecture on November 28, 1630, then as an apostolic vicariate on April 14, 1908. It is placed, directly, under the authority of the Holy See (i.e. say, under the authority of the legal entity which represents the Pope and the Roman Curia).
The building was built in 1961 using the most modern techniques of the time, by the Spanish architect Luis Martínez-Feduchi Ruiz. This was of course while keeping a classic, old-fashioned style.
The apse of this Cathedral (editor’s note: the eastern end of the choir of many churches) has stained glass windows by the glass artist Arcadio Blasco, a native of Alicante (in the Valencian Community in Spain). It is one of the main attractions of what the Castilians call “la Catedral de Santa María en Tángier”.
The tomb of Father José María Lerchundi, missionary in Morocco for more than thirty years, is regularly visited by the faithful and is located in the crypt of this church (editor’s note: the vault serving as a tomb under the choir, accessible by a corridor of circulation ).
CARDINAL CRISTÓBAL LÓPEZ ROMERO LEADS CHRISTMAS MASS FOR GLOBAL PEACE IN MOROCCO
Recently, in front of a large audience of faithful from the four corners of the world, Cardinal Cristóbal Lopez Romero, Archbishop of Rabat, celebrated Christmas mass praying for an end to conflicts and peace in the world.
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero greeted the assembly at the beginning of the ceremony and invited them to join him in preaching the cause of “peace and coexistence in Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, Armenia and in Sudan.
“We are gathered here to celebrate Christmas in a world devastated by violence, conflict and war,” declared the archbishop in front of a cathedral packed with faithful, including many tourists who came to Morocco for the end-of-year festivities. .
Among the highlights of the mass, it is worth mentioning the traditional presentation of bread, wine and water, as well as the offering followed by alms from the faithful.
That night, the Archbishop of Rabat did not skimp on epithets to highlight the ancestral values of the Kingdom of Morocco, where the three monotheistic religions coexist peacefully.
Recall that before Rabat, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero led the Christmas Eve mass at the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church in Casablanca, like several other parishes across Morocco where the faithful celebrated the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Casablanca is an impressive historical and architectural landmark that combines European with Moroccan styles. While it’s no longer a place as a place for worship but it is an important testimony to the city’s varied past and heritage of French colonial influences. The stunning facade, gorgeous stained-glass windows, and the breathtaking panoramas from Casablanca from its vantage point makes it an exceptional and significant element of the city’s rich heritage. Its Church of the Sacred Heart is a symbol that has become a defining part of the city’s multi-cultural identity. It is should be a must for anyone visiting the city.
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