Sacred Heart Church, Catholic church in Manama, Bahrain
Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church in central Manama, Bahrain, and one of only two Catholic churches in the country. The complex includes the main sanctuary, an adoration chapel, a community center, and a school run by the Apostolic Carmelite Sisters.
The foundation stone was laid in 1939, and the first Christmas midnight Mass was held that same year. This made it the first Catholic church to be established anywhere in the Persian Gulf region.
The congregation is made up of people from many different countries, and each Sunday multiple Masses are held in different languages. Visitors can hear prayers and hymns in languages ranging from English to Tagalog to Malayalam, all within the same building.
The church sits in central Manama and is easy to reach from most parts of the city. The complex is set up for daily use, with services and community activities spread across the week.
Although Bahrain is a predominantly Muslim country, the church has operated continuously and openly since it opened, with full state protection. This uninterrupted presence over many decades is unusual for a Catholic church anywhere in the Gulf.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
