Oman's First Catholic Church Opens Golden Jubilee
The Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to pilgrims who visit St. Peter and Paul Church during the jubilee and meet the usual conditions.
On November 6, 2026, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, opened the golden jubilee of St. Peter and Paul Church in Ruwi, Muscat, with a solemn Mass. The previous evening, representatives of other Christian denominations joined the parish for Vespers after the jubilee flag was raised.
At the Mass, the bishop blessed the jubilee altar outside the church, lit the jubilee candle, and blessed and opened the church entrance to mark the start of the year. The jubilee runs through November 5, 2027, and marks the 50th anniversary of the church’s consecration on November 4, 1977, by Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy and Bishop Giovanni Bernardo Gremoli, then Apostolic Vicar of Arabia. Its theme, “Built on the Rock, Driven by the Spirit,” draws on the examples of Saints Peter and Paul. Monthly celebrations will bring together different parish groups, ministries, and communities.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a plenary indulgence to those who visit the church during the jubilee and fulfill the usual conditions. Fr. Darick D'Souza read the decree before the final blessing.
Faith Built on Rock, Sent by the Spirit
In his homily, Bishop Martinelli recalled Jesus calling Peter’s faith the rock on which the Church would be built, then pointed to St. Paul, who let the Holy Spirit guide him in bringing the Gospel to others. He asked parishioners to consider who Christ is for them, to take a fuller part in parish life, and to invite people who do not participate in the Church to join the community.
“Jesus Christ has transformed us from a people of migrants into a people of missionaries,” the bishop said. He encouraged Catholics to bear witness to the Gospel in daily life and to work with people of goodwill for a more humane world.
Parish priest Fr. Stephen Lewis said the jubilee lets the community thank God for those who sustained it and renew its commitment to the sacraments, unity, and service to people in need. He thanked Oman’s political leaders, government officials, and people for their goodwill and for the opportunity to worship, describing the moment as one to thank God for the past and renew the community’s mission for the future.
From a Handful of Faithful to a Growing Vicariate
After World War II, Capuchins based in Bahrain began visiting Muscat every other month, when the city had about 50 Catholics. In 1973 Sultan Qaboos granted permission to build a church and priest’s residence near Muscat. At its consecration the church counted an estimated 3,500 Catholics. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1995 as the Catholic population grew.
Today the vicariate estimates about 100,000 Catholics in Oman, and about 10,000 people regularly attend the Ruwi parish, most of them from India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Four priests serve a community spread over a wide area, and three other Catholic churches have since been built in Ghala, Sohar, and Salalah. St. Peter and Paul remains Oman’s first Catholic church, now entering a year of thanksgiving and renewed missionary zeal.