During his pastoral visit to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Sohar, Bishop Paolo Martinelli has officially inaugurated the Pilgrim Centre, established in connection with the Franciscan Year marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The church in Sohar is dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, one of the first disciples of Saint Francis. This strong connection makes the parish a place where the faithful may receive the plenary indulgence throughout the Franciscan Year, until January 10, 2027.

The short ceremony took place on the feast day of the parish’s patron saint, just before the solemn Mass. Bishop Paolo raised the flag of the Franciscan Year, blessed the new center, and cut the ribbon, officially inaugurating the Pilgrim Centre.

A large number of faithful attended the ceremony and the Mass, including parishioners from other Catholic communities in Oman, reflecting the strong devotion to St. Anthony. Bishop Paolo invited all the faithful in Oman to organize pilgrimages to this Jubilee Church and to deepen their knowledge of St. Francis, St. Anthony, and Franciscan spirituality.

The Mass was presided over by Bishop Paolo. Concelebrating with him were Fr. Marian Miranda, parish priest of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Sohar; Fr. Darick D’Souza, Secretary to the Bishop; Fr. Stephen Lewis, parish priest in Ruwi; and Fr. Solomon Berchmans from Ghala parish.

In his homily, the bishop reflected on the life of St. Anthony and invited the parishioners to follow his example. Like St. Anthony, he said, Christians are called to cultivate the desire to follow Jesus and grow in holiness, to live fraternal relationships, to be humble, and to respond generously to the Lord’s call.

“Be worthy of your patron saint. Serve one another. May you always live in peace and be witnesses of the joy of the Gospel. May the Lord bless you and make you grow in love for one another.”

After the Mass, the celebration continued in a spirit of fraternity, with a shared meal and moments of friendship, recreation, and encounter among the faithful.