Church of the Saints Peter and Paul · Ruwi, Massage

🌹 Wonders and anecdotes

• The donation of the land by the Sultan of Oman - according to the sources of the parish itself, it was Sultan Qabus bin Said who delivered the solar - symbolizes the tradition of religious tolerance that has distinguished the Sultanate; the same generosity was repeated in 1986 when Qabus gave up a second solar in Ghala for the church of the Holy Spirit.
• The church was consecrated on 4 November 1977 by Cardinal Simon Lourduswamy, one of the most prominent Indian prelates of the 20th century; most of the first parishioners were expatriate workers from India and other Asian countries that began to arrive in Oman in the 20th century.
• The first resident priest was Father Bartholomew Kestell OFM Cap., sent by Bishop Bernard Gremoli OFM Cap., apostolic vicar of Arabia, in the early years of the parish; the community grew so quickly that the temple was expanded with the funds of the faithful themselves and reopened in 1995.
• Within the parish complex, as you enter the main door, you will find on the left a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes that serves as a place of private prayer; next to the grotto there are rooms available for the community and a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
• The church combines classic elements with contemporary design and has colored windows representing biblical scenes; it is the center of a multiracial community that brings together Catholics from Asia, Africa and Europe who work or reside in the Omani capital.