Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus of Salmiya
In the district of Salmiya, on the banks of the Persian Gulf, the Parish of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus is the spiritual home of more than a thousand Catholic families - Filipino, Indian, Sinhalan and other communities in Asia - who found in this corner of Kuwait a place of prayer, fraternity and mutual support. Inaugurated as a chapel in 1974 and raised to parish in 2006 under the care of the Salesians of Don Bosco, its history starts from that first mass held in 1959 in a particular house.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- On 3 November 1959, at the home of the Menezes family of Salmiya, a small community of about forty faithful celebrated the first Catholic mass of the neighborhood; from that simple gesture a community that today brings together more than a thousand families and about 875 children who come to the catechesis every Friday.
- During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Salmiya chapel became "a true oasis in the desert": it opened its doors as a food distribution point and spiritual shelter for the thousands of expatriates trapped in the country, offering comfort and material assistance at one of the darkest moments in Kuwait's recent history.
- In 2000, when the community faced the risk of losing the building that housed the place of worship, the faithful mobilized and managed to acquire the building in property; in 2001, the renovated chapel was solemnly inaugurated with capacity for 600 or 700 faithful, a new sign of the persevering faith of the Catholics of Salmiya.
- By decree of Bishop Camillo Ballin of July 28, 2006, the chapel was raised to parish under the official name "Church of Santa Teresa del Niño Jesus"; since August 3, 2008 it has been entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco, who multiplied the masses in English, Malabar, konkani, Tagalo and Tamil to attend to the diversity of communities.
- There are only four Catholic churches and one mission in Kuwait; that of Salmiya, with its central location next to the Indian Community School, is the spiritual reference of the eastern neighborhoods of the capital: Salmiya, Rumaithiya, Salwa, Mishref and Bayan, among others.
Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus
The Parish of Santa Teresa del Niño Jesus of Salmiya was born from a particular house mass in 1959 and was consolidated as a chapel in 1974 and as a parish in 2006 under the Salesians of Don Bosco. Today it is home to more than a thousand Catholic families from various Asian nations, with daily masses in five languages and a lively community of child catechesis.
"St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, patron of the missionaries, intercede for the faithful of all the nations that gather under your name in Salmiya, and condone them on the path of spiritual childhood to the heart of God.
Is the advocation of the Virgin Mary of your people missing?
Si no encuentras la advocación mariana de tu ciudad o pueblo, cuéntanosla: la investigaremos para ubicarla y darla a conocer en este mapa del amor de la Madre por el mundo.
Propose an apvocation →