Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
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Manama (Agenzia Fides) – “In the heart of Manama stands the Sacred Heart Church, an 85-year-old symbol of faith, harmony, and generosity of Bahrain's rulers. Its story began in 1938, when His Highness Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa offered Monsignor Giovanni Battista Tirinanzi, a missionary who served as Apostolic Vicar of Arabia from July 2, 1937, to October 21, 1948, as well as Titular Bishop of Gaza (1937-1949), a plot of land for a Christian church. On this gift, the foundations of the first Catholic church in the Gulf were laid.” This is how Father Francis Joseph Padavupurackal, OFM Cap., parish priest and rector of the Church of Manama, belonging to the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, recounts it.
The Capuchin missionary continues his story, tracing the origins of the construction in June 1939. "In December of that same year, the first Christmas bells rang in Bahrain. On March 3, 1940, the Mother Church of the Gulf was blessed, becoming a spiritual home to a small but growing community. Over the decades, dedicated shepherds nurtured the flock. As the years passed, the parish expanded, priests travelled crossed the Gulf to serve the scattered communities. Later, the arrival of the Comboni Sisters in 1953 transformed the parish school into a beacon of education and compassion. As the years passed, thanks also to the contribution of religious leaders of the time, they continued building schools, halls, and facilities to serve the growing faithful."
“A new chapter opened in 2013, when His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa donated land for a cathedral (see Fides, 13/2/2013). Pope Francis blessed the project with a brick from the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, and in 2021, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia (OLA) was inaugurated and consecrated.
In November 2022, Bahrain welcomed the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who visited the parish, blessing its people and honoring its role in interfaith coexistence (see Fides, 29/9/2022).
On January 28, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., Bishop and Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
And now, 85 years after its humble beginnings, the Sacred Heart Church in Manama has entered a new era," concludes Father Joseph. "These stones, once laid in simple faith, now stand as enduring symbols of love, tolerance, and devotion." (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 27/12/2025)
