St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Parish

In the late fifties, a small community of Catholics had begun to grow in the suburban district of Salmiya, after the Indian School of Kuwait opened its doors to students on 5th May 1959. The lack of proper transport to and from the Cathedral in Kuwait City made it difficult for the faithful to fulfill their Sunday obligation. This was soon resolved by Mr. Archie Menezes, a parishioner at whose request Bishop Stella celebrated the First Holy Mass in Salmiya at the Menezes residence for about 40 people. The day was Tuesday, 3rd November 1959 following which every week the Holy Mass was celebrated atop his building residence for about 60 to 70 people. A ‘Praesidium’ of the Legion of Mary, which slowly took shape in Salmiya, after its first meeting at the residence of Valentine D'Souza in 1961 began arranging all the Liturgical Services.

New premises were secured in 1967 but as it offered very limited space, the pioneers began scouting for a larger worship place. Three years later, in 1970, Mr. Archie Menezes finally managed to rent a villa with a garage and a courtyard in the area behind Maroosh. This villa, after being converted to a Chapel, could comfortably accommodate over a hundred people. All seemed well.

Alas! A few years later, complaints from neighbours meant the place had to be vacated and another search called for. The hardy band of pioneers led by Mr. Archie and guided by the Apostolic Administrator Monsignor Victor Sanmiguel, had finally arrived home, when they acquired, on a rental basis the present facilities in January 1974.

Now came the task of getting the House of the Lord in proper order. Monsignor Victor Sanmiguel agreed to bear the expenses for the repair and refurbishment of this small chapel. On the evening of Wednesday, 5th February 1974, he performed the opening ceremony and dedicated the new Chapel to the Holy Redeemer.

Thus began a new era in the history of the Salmiya Catholic Community. Mass was celebrated with Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, each Wednesday. Monsignor Victor bore the lion's share of the hefty rent for the chapel.

During this time, the Legion of Mary, along with early stalwarts managed the Chapel property and arranged the weekly Services. Mention must be made of the great pastoral efforts of the priests of the time including Rev. Fr. Fulgencio Fernandes, OCD, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Gonsalves, OCD, and Rev. Fr. Dominic Santamaria who continues to be a blessing to the Vicariate even to this day.

On 15th January 1982, Monsignor Francis George Micallef, OCD, (1982–2005) Kuwait's third Catholic Bishop, took charge of the Vicariate. He magnanimously continued to shoulder the major burden of the rent for the Chapel which had now been increased.

Under his supervision, the faith community began to grow. In 1983 under the leadership of Sebastian Pereira, the Charismatic Prayer Group (which he named ‘God's Love Community’) with its choir began its meetings in Salmiya.

In 1989 the Malayalam Community, with their own choir in attendance, celebrated the first Mass in Malayalam when Rev. Fr. John Chrysostom, OCD, joined the Vicariate of Kuwait. Then on, the Mass in Malayalam became a weekly celebration on Wednesday.

Chapel services were suddenly curtailed following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2nd August 1990. Most Indians left Kuwait. Those who stayed back were gripped by a sense of fear and insecurity.

Bishop Micallef visited Salmiya to restore calm but found it difficult to keep visiting the Chapel and asked the community to take responsibility for the key to the Chapel. This responsibility was courageously accepted by Agnello D'Souza, who served as a sacristan before the invasion. Thanks to him, the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary and the occasional celebration of Holy Mass was made possible.

Later, Fr. John Alex Pinto, OCD (1988–1995) came to reside in Salmiya for a while and was graciously accommodated by Mr. Charles Gomes, at his residence, so that the faithful could have Mass on Fridays during the period of his stay.

The Chapel during this period served not only as a House of Prayer, but also as a distribution point for foodstuff received as aid and for mail collected from the nearby Indian school. The first ever Christmas Tree Party was organized in 1990 by Elivio Fernandes of the Legion of Mary, for the children during the Invasion. The Chapel became a true oasis in the desert for the faithful left behind during the invasion.

Kuwait was liberated by the Coalition forces through the U.S. led Operation Desert Storm (Jan 17 to Feb 26, 1991). A few months later, under the guidance of Bishop Micallef and Fr. John Pinto, the Chapel started resuming its regular activities. Expatriates slowly trickled into Kuwait, foremost among which were members of the Prayer groups, the GLC, and the Legion of Mary.

Catechism classes for children, resumed in earnest in 1992, under Ms. Wendy Fernandes. The first Catechism Children's Christmas Tree Party was organized in 1992 under the guidance of the Priest-in-Charge, Rev. Fr. John Alex Pinto, OCD.

The first alteration to the interior of the Chapel came about in 1994–1995. The Altar was moved from the wall at the right side of the entrance to the rear of the Chapel (about 3 meters further inside from its present location), the side walls were replaced with huge sliding windows, as also the rear wall near the only entrance, beside the stairs leading to the caretaker's room on the terrace. New benches were made to accommodate the burgeoning community. An artist from the Cathedral, painted a fresco as a backdrop for the Altar.

The alterations and optimization of space made more activities possible. Thus, 1994 witnessed the launching of the Summer Club for Catechism children, which was thrown open the following year to all children below 17 years.

The Inaugural First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies were held in the Holy Redeemer Chapel in April and May 1995, thanks to the efforts of Rev. Fr. John Pinto and the Catechism Group, who requested Bishop Micallef to transfer these ceremonies to the Chapel.

A fledgling Children's Choir sang for these ceremonies and continued to sing for the Friday morning Children's Mass from 18th October 1996.

In late 1996, the Chapel faced its first major crisis: the landlord wanted the premises vacated and the hefty rent payments were depleting the Vicariate funds. Something had to be done and quick; the community had to start shouldering its own financial responsibilities and the community did come through. They did it together. Fetes were held twice a year and special donations were requested. Church collections vastly improved. Gradually, the Community began bearing the Chapel expenses and even sent its surplus to the Cathedral.

The landlord still had to be dealt with. It was the statesmanship, persuasiveness, and charisma of Bishop Micallef that stalled the crisis, no doubt with the able support of Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias, OCD (1995–2001) and the Chapel Administrator, Mr. Alex Pereira (1998–2001).

A new ‘first’ soon followed. From 17th to 26th March 1997 the first of the many 3-day retreats were held in English, Malayalam, and Konkani. The following year, 1998, saw the emergence of a new family-oriented movement, when Bishop Micallef established the Salmiya Chapter of the Couples for Christ (CFC) under the leadership of Rakesh & Christina Mascarenhas. Fr. Gabriel Dias was its first Spiritual Director.

The crisis that had begun in 1996 came to a head in early 2000. The Chapel encountered its most crucial obstacle as the landlord was not willing to budge from his threat of immediate foreclosure of the premises. Only a direct purchase of the property could now save the Holy Redeemer Chapel.

Witnessing the tremendous unity and effort of the Salmiya Catholic Community to save their place of worship, Bishop Micallef decided that he could not let his people down. At the behest of Bishop Micallef and Fr. Gabriel, ‘Heaven storming’ prayer sessions were held each Monday from 7.15 pm to 9.15 pm starting from 7th February 2000. Catholics flocked in droves and of course, God answered their prayers. The Holy Redeemer Chapel was saved through the purchase of the land and facilities.

News of his plans set into motion a flurry of activity: purse strings were loosened, fetes were held; Christmas hampers and raffles were organized. People were galvanized into action. Never had the community moved so quickly, so generously and so unitedly, so that by the end of the year 2000, Bishop Micallef knew for sure that he could move ahead with the meticulous renovation plans.

The technical team consisted of Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias, Alex Pereira – Chapel Administrator, John D'Souza – Resident Engineer, Architect and Overall-in-Charge, Bonny Fernandes – Sound System, Joseph D'Souza – AC Systems, and Rosario Fernandes – Electrical System.

The work commenced in mid-January and the Chapel was shutdown in the 3rd week. On 8th June 2001, the long-awaited day finally arrived: the blessing and inauguration of the renovated Holy Redeemer Chapel. Bishop Micallef performed the honours in the presence of the Vatican Charge d'Affairs, Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea. The Chapel could now comfortably seat 600–700 worshippers. Another hundred could easily occupy chairs in the courtyard, where Festive services were transmitted via multimedia projectors.

In March 2003 the open top of the courtyard was covered with a roof; fans and additional lighting were installed. For Christmas 2003, hardy volunteers covered the space between the terrace and the roof with blue tarpaulin.

The Konkani Mass was again requested in 2003 by Fr. Francis Xavier Fernandes (2001–2004) but it was only in January 2005, when Fr. Melvin D'Cunha, OCD (2004–2006) obtained permission, that the First Mass with a Konkani Choir came to be celebrated on 7th January 2005.

Fr. Melvin also started the formation of the Salmiya Parish Youth (SPY), which held their first meeting on 5th October 2005. Following Fr. Melvin's transfer to the Cathedral as Parish Priest, Fr. Lionel Braganza SDB, became the Spiritual Director of SPY.

Blessings galore came down upon the Community in the person of Monsignor Camillo Ballin MCCJ who succeeded Bishop Micallef when he retired in July 2005. Monsignor Camillo Ballin was consecrated at the Holy Family Cathedral and was installed as the fourth Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait on 2nd September 2005.

That day was 28th July 2006, when following a Decree by His Lordship, Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCJ, the name of the Holy Redeemer Chapel was changed to “The Church of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus” and it was canonically erected into a Parish (Canon #515). Rev. Fr. Berchmans Aruldoss, OCD, (2006–2008) was installed as the first Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. Thomas Vadakkedem as Asst. Parish Priest. This truly was an emotional day for the parishioners; some of whom shed tears of joy during the Ceremony. God had led them through the darkest hours to this day of glorious light.

In September 2007, the courtyard received its present look; 2 additional Air Handling units were installed on the roof and a false ceiling, flooring, tiled walls etc. were installed.

On 3rd August 2008, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Church and Parish were entrusted to the pastoral care of the Salesians of Don Bosco with Rev. Fr. Tony D'Souza, SDB, as its second Parish Priest.

With the erection of a Parish, the frequency and number of Masses increased. Daily Masses were held in the morning and evening. The Malayalam Community had their weekly Service on Wednesday. The Konkani Community had Mass each Friday at 5.50 pm. On 28th October 2008, a Filipino Choir sang for the 6 pm Sunday Mass. In November 2008, the Filipino Community celebrated their First Mass in Tagalog. The Tamil Community had their First Mass on 8th November 2008. Other choirs quickly blossomed: Guardian Angels Choir, Holy Redeemer Choir, Ave Maria Choir etc.

On 15th August 2009, the Church Library was inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Tony D'Souza. On 9th October 2009, the American and European community celebrated the first of their regular Friday Masses, previously held in the US Embassy.

Much credit must be given to all the Salesians and other priests who served since 2008 under the able leadership of the various Parish Priests including Rev. Fr. Tony D'Souza, Rev. Fr. Blany Pinto and currently, Rev. Fr. Savio D'Souza. Under the pastoral care of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the parish community of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Salmiya continues to blossom and grow into an even more vibrant, committed, and cohesive parish family; all working towards one goal: the greater glory of God!