Parishes 4 Area 17,900 km² | Denomination Roman Catholic | |
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Country KuwaitBahrainQatarSaudi Arabia Population- Total- Catholics (as of 2014)36,252,7222,445,000 (6.7%) Countries | ||
Full performance by the apostolic vicariate of northern arabia during wyd in siedlce 21 07 2016
The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Northern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Septentrionalis Arabic: النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية) is a Catholic vicariate apostolic (exempt pre-diocesan Latin missionary jurisdiction) with official seat in Kuwait.
Contents
- Full performance by the apostolic vicariate of northern arabia during wyd in siedlce 21 07 2016
- Statistics
- History
- Episcopal ordinaries
- Coat of arms
- References
It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See and its Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, not part of any ecclesiastical province.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Holy Family Cathedral, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The present Ordinary of the vicariate is the Italian Titular bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ.
Statistics
It covers the peninsular Arabian countries of : Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, although there are no churches in Saudi Arabia.
As per 2014, it pastorally served 2,445,000 Catholics (6.7% of 36,252,722 total) on 2,179,846 km² in 10 parishes with 58 priests (18 diocesan, 40 religious), 2 deacons and 58 lay religious (40 brothers, 18 sisters).
History
In January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments declared the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Arabia patroness of the Northern Vicariate.
In August 2012, it was decided to transfer the headquarters of the vicariate from Kuwait to Bahrain because Bahrain is closer to Saudi Arabia, where most of the vicariate's laypeople live. Another reason for the transfer was that Bahrain had a more lenient visa policy.
Episcopal ordinaries
(all Roman Rite, so far European members of Latin missionary congregations)
- Ubaldo Teofano Stella]], O.C.D. (born Italy) (see above 2 December 1954 – retired March 1966), Titular Bishop of Antæopolis (1955.06.04 – death 1978.11.09)
- Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D. (born Spain) (31 May 1976 – retired 5 November 1981), Titular Bishop of Rusubbicari (1976.05.31 – death 1995.04.04); initially as Apostolic Administrator 1966.03.17 – 1976.05.31
- Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, O.C.D. (born Malta) (5 November 1981 – retired 14 July 2005), Titular Bishop of Tinisa in Proconsulari (1981.11.05 – ...)
- Camillo Ballin, Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (M.C.C.I.) (born Italy) (14 July 2005 – 31 May 2011 see below), Titular Bishop of Arna (2005.07.14 – ...)
- Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.I. (see above 31 May 2011 – ...)
Coat of arms
The proposal of coat of arms created by Marek Sobola, a heraldic specialist from Slovakia. The colors of the new coat of arms are derived from the national colors of the states, which are incorporated into the Vicariate - Bahrain (red), Kuwait (black), Qatar (violet) and Saudi Arabia (green). The letter "M" is the symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Arabia as patron saint of the Northern Vicariate.