Cardinal Tagle Opens Largest Cathedral in Persian Gulf

UCANews ^ | 12/12/21 | Dale Gavlak

[marshmallow]

Catholics in Bahrain hail mainly from the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka. South Americans, Europeans

A general view shows Our Lady Arabia Cathedral during its inauguration in Awali south of the Bahraini capital Manama, which was opened for prayers on Dec. 10 by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP)

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, consecrated Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral in Bahrain, the newest and largest cathedral in the Persian Gulf region, Dec.10.

Until now, church officials said Bahrain only had one church in the capital, Manama, and a chapel in the suburbs to serve the country's more than 90,000 Catholics. This necessitated 25 weekend Masses to be celebrated in the Manama parish from Friday through Sunday.

Cardinal Tagle joined the choir in singing "Spirit, wash over me, cleanse me, refresh me, and fill me anew," as he sprinkled holy water on the clergy and parishioners and sanctified the cathedral for its service.

"Dear brothers and sisters, as we solemnly dedicate this house, let us humbly call upon the Lord our God to bless this water he has created ... as a sign of repentance in a remembrance of baptism and by which the new walls and altar will be purified," said Cardinal Tagle. "May the Lord support us with his grace so that, docile to the Spirit whom we have received, we may remain faithful in his church."

"Dear family of God, please come home often to this church, to meet and converse, talk with our merciful Father. God eagerly awaits you. It would be a pity to have a beautiful house with no one living there," the cardinal told international congregants during his homily.

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[Ann Archy]

I PRAY it remains CATHOLIC! But WHAT a MIRACLE!