Barein Marian Advocations
In the small island kingdom of Baréin, in the Persian Gulf, the Catholic Church has had a small but alive presence for more than a century, mainly made up of migrant workers from the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries. The community is gathered around the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the only Catholic parish in the country.
- Marvel and Marian anecdotes of Barein
- The church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in 1938 in the city of Awali by oil workers, is the first Catholic church on the Arabian peninsula in modern time.
- In 2021, a new Catholic cathedral was announced in Barein, under the patronage of Our Lady of Arabia, to host the country's growing Catholic community.
- Many faithful say that when they moved to Baréin to work, they found in the parish community of the Sacred Heart a true spiritual home, with masses in various languages and an active devotion to the Rosary.
- The small Catholic community of Baréin celebrates with special solemnity the feast of the Immaculate Conception, patron of the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia.
History of Marian devotion in Baréin
Christianity in Baréin has a history that dates back to apostolic times (in the case of some Eastern traditions) or to the arrival of European missionaries in the XVII- 17th centuries. The devotion to the Virgin Mary, although practiced by a minory of the population, has a significant presence among the local Catholic communities. Mary is venerated as the Mother of God and protector of Christians in contexts where they are often minory.
The Marian advocacy in Baréin reflects both the missionary tradition (Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, the Immaculate Conception) and the local expressions of Marian piety. The Christian communities, through their parishes, schools and social works, keep alive the devotion to Mary as the Mother of all peoples.
The Archdiocese of North Arabia, based in Kuwait City, has jurisdiction over Barein. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, with capacity for 2,300 faithful, was a gift from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the Catholic community. It contains an image of Our Lady of Arabia, an advocation that represents the Virgin in Arab garments. The Bareini Catholic community, composed mainly of Filipinos, Indians and Lebanese, celebrates the month of May with special devotion.
Barein Marian Advocations
Our Lady of Arabia
Our Lady of Arabia is the patron of the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia, to which Baréin belongs together with Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The devotion dates back to 1948, when a chapel was dedicated in Ahmadi, Kuwait. In Baréin, the new cathedral planned in Awali will be dedicated to this apvocation, which protects Catholics from all over the Arabian peninsula.
🙏 Our Lady of Arabia, pray for us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary
The parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Awali, the only Catholic church in Baréin for decades, has a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary much loved by the Filipino faithful of the island, who celebrate the May Flowers and the Rosary there.
🙏 Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Ntra. Sra. del Rosario de Baréin
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Baréin, with strong devotion to the Virgin of the Rosary, serves the multicultural Catholic community in the Kingdom of Baréin.
🙏 Virgin of the Rosary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Arabia of Awali, Catholic Cathedral of Baréin
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, opened on December 10, 2021, is the largest Catholic church in the Persian Gulf. Its modern architecture, with a large sandstone facade, has become a symbol of interreligious dialogue.
"Our Lady of Awali Arabia, pray for us.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Manama, venerated in the church of the Sacred Heart of Manama
The church of the Sacred Heart of Manama, built in 1939, was the first Catholic temple in Baréin. It houses a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary which is the center of the Marian devotion of the parish community.
"Our Lady of the Rosary of Manama, pray for us.
Our Lady of Fatima of Muharraq, venerated in the chapel of Muharraq
The Catholic community of Muharraq, the third city of Baréin, meets in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima to celebrate the Eucharist and pray the Rosary in community.
"Our Lady of Fatima of Muharraq, pray for us.
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