Frequently Asked Questions

There are 4 Catholic Churches and 1 mission in Kuwait, located in Kuwait City, Ahmadi, Salmiya, and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The Greek Catholic church conducts its services separately in Salwa.

Contact details and directions can be found on the individual parish pages:

• Holy Family Cathedral Parish, Kuwait City
• Minor Basilica Our Lady of Arabia, Ahmadi
• St. Thérèse Parish, Salmiya
• St. Daniel Comboni Parish, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

Yes, there are geographical boundaries for each Parish. While you may choose which church to attend based on convenience, Baptisms, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Weddings can ONLY take place in your Parish church.

It's important to have a sense of belonging to a particular Parish community — get involved in Parish activities and make yourself and your family known to your Parish Priest.

Parishioners are determined by the area in which they reside:

• Holy Family Cathedral (Kuwait City): Suleibikhat, Sharq, Safat, Bneid Al Gar, Shuwaikh, Khaitan, Farwaniya, Riggai, Omariya, Doha, Kaifan, Jahra, Mirqab, Andalus, Dasman, Shamiya, Yarmouk, Ardiya, Surra, Jabriya and Hawally.
• Minor Basilica Our Lady of Arabia (Ahmadi): Wafra, Mina Abdullah, Fahaheel, Mangaf, Abu Halifa, Fintas, Adan, Sabahiya, Riqqa, Hadiya, Mahboula, Magwa, Funaitees and Shuaiba.
• St. Thérèse (Salmiya): Messila, Ras Salmiya, Salwa, Rumaithiya, Midan Hawally, Sabah Al Salem, Mishref and Bayan.
• St. Daniel Comboni (Jleeb): Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Dhaieel, Airport, Wista, Subhan and Qurain 1, 2, 3 & 4.

An Apostolic Vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction established in missionary regions that do not yet have a full diocese. "Vicariate" is a provisional status — the ultimate hope is that the region will generate local clergy, sufficient Catholics, and enough stability to become a full diocese.

The Vicariate is governed by a Bishop with the title of "Vicar Apostolic".

Sunday and daily Mass timings can be found on the Mass Schedules page for all 3 Parishes. Please also check the Special Notices on that page for Mass timings in other regional languages.

Yes, the Maronite rite Mass is held on Sunday at 8:30 PM in the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City. Other services are also held during the week. Please see the Maronite Congregation website for a full schedule.

Yes. Please see the Mass Schedules for timings. Please ask your Parish Priest for any new schedules or changes in the Syro-Malabar or Syro-Malankara Service.

Yes. Besides English, Masses are currently said in: Arabic, Konkani, Tagalog, Malayalam, Tamil, Sinhalese, Korean, Spanish and Italian. Masses are also occasionally said in French and Polish. Please contact your Parish Priest for updated schedules.

A priest is generally available for Confession during Mass and at other times by request.

Yes. In Kuwait, all morning and evening Masses on Friday and Saturday evening celebrate the Sunday Liturgy of the following Sunday. These are all valid for Sunday Obligation.

It is compulsory to attend Mass on holy days of obligation. Please see the list of holy days of obligation on the website for the full details applicable to the Vicariate.

The faithful must abstain from solid food and liquids for one hour before receiving Holy Communion.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Due to special circumstances in our Vicariate, abstinence is also observed on every Wednesday during Lent. Out of devotion, abstinence is observed on every Wednesday throughout the year.

The Lenten regulations for Kuwait are listed on the Lenten Rules and Regulations page of this website.

Catholics are obliged to make a Confession and receive Holy Communion (at least once) during the Easter period.

Many spiritual devotions are provided in the three Parishes, including Novenas, Eucharistic Adorations, the Rosary and other devotions. Please visit the individual parish pages for full details.

You can offer Thanksgiving Masses and Masses for the Souls at any of the Parish offices for a nominal fee.

His Lordship Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T. is the current Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, covering Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

A Bishop is one who has received the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, making him a member of the episcopal college and a successor of the Apostles. He is the shepherd of a particular church entrusted to him.

Bishops can be regarded as Apostle, Prophet, Chief Priest, Leader, Pastor and Teacher. They are also required to perform administrative duties for their particular territory.

Jurisdiction over all Catholics — of whatever Rite or nationality — present in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia belongs exclusively to the Apostolic Vicar. He is equivalent in law to a diocesan bishop but exercises governance in the name of the Supreme Pontiff.

• Local Bishop: "Bishop [Name]" or "Your Lordship"
• Papal Nuncio (Archbishop): "Your Grace" or "Your Excellency"
• Priests: "Father" or "Reverend Father"
• Deacon: "Deacon" or "Deacon [Name]"

Yes. The Apostolic/Papal Nuncio (Archbishop) to Kuwait and some other Gulf countries also resides in Kuwait, at the Vatican Embassy on the Gulf Road.

To suit the convenience of both the Bishop and yourself, it is advisable to make a prior appointment. You may do so by calling the Cathedral office during office hours.

Yes. Please make a prior appointment by contacting the Priest personally or by email, or phone the Parish office during office hours.

A Deacon is an ordained Church minister who may perform the duties of a Priest (if none is available), except say Mass and hear Confession. He assists the Bishop and in the Parish teaches and administers certain tasks. An ordained Deacon may also be a married person.

The Bishop welcomes all faith and spiritual-related questions through the "Ask the Bishop" section of our website. You can also view all answers previously given by the Bishop there.

If you are currently outside Kuwait, email us your exact name, date of birth, date of baptism, where you were baptized (Cathedral or Ahmadi), and your postal address. We will prepare and send the certificate to you.

If you are still in Kuwait, contact your Parish office and they will provide you with the certificate.

Please see the Requirements for Baptism page on our website for the full procedure applicable in this Vicariate.

Catechism Classes are regularly conducted in all 3 Parishes on Friday mornings for children and youth from Beginners to Post-Confirmation level. They prepare children to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Please see the Parish Schedules for details, or contact the Catechism co-ordinators available at the Parishes on Friday mornings.

Please see the Requirements for First Holy Communion and Confirmation on our website. You may also meet the Parish Priest who will advise you accordingly.

Please see the Requirements for a Church Marriage in Kuwait. You may also meet the Parish Priest who will advise you accordingly.

Yes. Marriage Preparation Courses are conducted annually, every 3 to 4 months in Kuwait. They are compulsory for those intending to marry in the Catholic Church. Please check the website for the latest dates and venues.

The first Kuwait Pastoral Council (KPC) was established in May 2009. It is an advisory body that collaborates in the pastoral work of the Vicariate, alongside the Bishop and the clergy. Parishioners are encouraged to communicate suggestions through a KPC member.

There is a lot to get involved in! We have various Parish ministries and groups including the Legion of Mary, the Charismatic Renewal, Couples for Christ, and Youth Groups. There are also many regional choirs and Bible Study Classes. Please see the Parish Groups' Schedules on the website.

Please contact the Deacon at the Holy Family Cathedral, or contact the Parish Priest directly.

• Fajer Al Sabah School (Arabic) – run by the Rosary Sisters, located in Jabriya
• Carmel School – run by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters, located in Kheitan
• Indian English Academy School – run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, located in Salmiya

• Kuwait City Parish Youth – meet every Saturday at 7:00 PM in the Bishop's House (Basement). Open to ages 25–35.
• Salmiya Parish Youth – meet at 7:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Contact the Chapel office to join.
• Summer Camps – held during June–August for children and youth. Contact Parish offices or the Salesians of Don Bosco in Salmiya.

Yes. Please contact the Bishop personally for spiritual guidance regarding a vocation.

All our Priests and Religious Sisters offer spiritual and general counselling when necessary. Please contact any of them personally or through the Parish office. Couples for Christ also provides enrichment programs for singles, married couples and families.

All our Priests and Religious Sisters offer spiritual and general counselling when necessary. Please contact any of them personally or through the Parish office.

Two books by Bishop Victor San Miguel offer a rich insight: "Christians in Kuwait" and "Pastor in Kuwait". Pastor in Kuwait is available at the Cathedral Resource Centre (subject to stock). A concise version of both books is also available in the Historical Timeline section of this website.

Please see the website for a map with directions to the Sulaibikhat cemetery. The cemetery is open for visits from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Yes. We have a comprehensive list of Catholic churches and institutions in the Arabian Peninsula with postal addresses and phone numbers for the U.A.E., Yemen and Oman. Website and email links are provided where available.

Please contact the Parish Priest and he will send an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to your home or to the hospital. We appreciate being informed when a parishioner is in hospital.

We respond to emergencies at any time, day or night. However, please give us a call before the patient becomes critically ill.

Please see our Prayer Request Page. Your petition will be printed and placed in the prayer basket at the Altar at the following Night Vigil of the month, at the Holy Family Cathedral.

Please contact the Parish Priest and arrange a convenient time.

Please contact the Sacristy at your Parish church to obtain Holy Water.

Yes. Please contact either a Priest or Deacon before or after Mass. You may also bless other household articles in the same way.

Yes. An electronic "Vicariate Newsletter" is sent via email to subscribers every Sunday. Please subscribe through the website to receive it for free. You can also view the online version of the latest newsletter on the website.

From the Cathedral Resource Centre, Kuwait City (open every day except Mondays). It has a wide range of Christian and Catholic books, music CDs, and other religious materials. A limited selection is also available at the Resource Centre of the Salmiya Chapel.

The Church has no means by which it can arrange for private visas.

Visiting Priests are requested to meet the Bishop and Parish Priest at the beginning of their stay in Kuwait. This is to ensure a fruitful stay and to communicate guidelines for conducting private services, collecting funds, etc.

Please see our Section on Prayers. If you cannot find it there, email the webmaster at holyfamily_kuwait@hotmail.com with your request.