Holy Family Co-Cathedral, Kuwait City

Holy Family Co-Cathedral, located in Kuwait City, is a significant Catholic cathedral renowned for its religious and cultural importance. Situated on the eastern side of the city, in the Qibla area, this religious edifice stands on land generously donated by the Kuwaiti government.

The cathedral's architectural design was conceived by Emilio Tenca. Its foundation stone was laid on January 27, 1957, marking the commencement of a construction phase that culminated with its consecration on March 16, 1961. A notable feature within the church is the statue of Our Lady of Arabia, a smaller replica of the 1949 cedar statue housed in the Catholic church in Ahmadi, Kuwait.

Historically, the Holy Family Cathedral served as the episcopal seat of the bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. However, this changed with the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Bahrain, leading to the renaming of the Kuwait City cathedral as the Holy Family Co-Cathedral.

The cathedral plays a vital role in catering to the spiritual needs of the approximately 140,000 Catholics residing in Kuwait. Recognizing the diverse linguistic background of its congregation, masses are held throughout the week in multiple languages, including Bengali, Hindi, and Korean, to accommodate everyone.

Furthermore, the Holy Family Co-Cathedral is a center for religious education and preparation. It offers catechism classes for children and teenagers, guiding them towards significant sacraments like Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. In addition, it provides marriage preparation courses, underscoring its role as a comprehensive spiritual hub for the Catholic community in Kuwait.