Historic Church of the Sacred Heart in Manama, Bahrain, to be declared Vicariate Shrine on Nov 8, marking 85th jubilee. A spiritual milestone for Gulf Catholics.
Newsroom (23/10/2025, Gaudium Press )The Christian community of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, under the leadership of Bishop Aldo Berardi, is set to mark a historic milestone with the designation of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Manama Bahrain as the Vicariate Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The announcement underscores the church’s significance as a beacon of faith and devotion in the Gulf region.
Located less than 30 kilometers from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, the seat of the Northern Vicariate since 2021, the Church of the Sacred Heart holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic church on the Arabian Peninsula, excluding Yemen. Consecrated in 1940, it has long been revered as the “Mother Church,” drawing pilgrims and devotees from across the Gulf for its spiritual vitality and historical resonance.
The formal declaration of the church as a vicariate shrine will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, coinciding with the church’s 85th jubilee year. Bishop Aldo Berardi will preside over a solemn Mass to mark the occasion, which is expected to attract Catholics from Bahrain and beyond. “This event represents a milestone for Catholics in the Gulf,” the vicariate stated, emphasizing the church’s role as a spiritual hub for the region’s diverse Catholic population, largely composed of economic migrants from Asia, particularly India.
As a newly designated shrine, the Church of the Sacred Heart will offer a partial indulgence to pilgrims who participate in the votive Mass on Thursdays or Fridays dedicated to the Sacred Heart, following confession, communion, and prayers for the Pope’s intentions. The vicariate encourages the faithful to visit the shrine to “seek divine grace” in a place where “the human and the divine meet.” Lay associations devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will support the shrine’s mission by organizing prayer meetings, novenas, and other devotional activities.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia spans Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, encompassing diverse social, political, and religious contexts. In Saudi Arabia, where Islam is the only permitted religion, a discreet Catholic presence persists. As of 2020, the vicariate served nearly 2.8 million baptized Catholics across its 11 parishes, out of a regional population of approximately 43 million. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali serves as the vicariate’s headquarters.
To safeguard the shrine’s “historical dignity” and “spiritual character,” Bishop Berardi plans to appoint a rector to oversee its pastoral care, administration, and the promotion of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The rector will also be tasked with preserving the church’s historical heritage and ensuring its physical maintenance. “The new title brings privileges and responsibilities that reflect the deep reverence for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Church’s commitment to preserving its spiritual heritage,” the vicariate noted.
The Church of the Sacred Heart traces its origins to 1939, when its foundation stone was laid on land donated by Bahrain’s then-ruler, Shaikh Haman Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Built through the efforts of Capuchin priest Fr. Luigi, the church hosted its first celebration on Christmas Eve 1939, with its bells ringing at 11 p.m. It was formally blessed on March 3, 1940, cementing its place as a cornerstone of Catholic life in the Gulf.
The upcoming celebration on November 8 promises to be a moment of unity and reflection for the region’s Catholics, reinforcing the church’s enduring role as a symbol of faith, history, and devotion.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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