St. Peter's Church, Karachi Explained

St. Peter’s Church
Location:Akhtar Colony, Karachi
Country:Pakistan
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Dedicated Date:9 November 2011
People:consecrated by Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra
Architect:Kausar Ali
Style:brown brick
Groundbreaking:22 November 2009
Construction Cost:Rupees 5 million
Capacity:5,000
Height:24 meters
Other Dimensions:Area 1,858 square meters
Parish:St Paul's Parish, Azam Basti
Archdiocese:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi
Priestincharge:Benjamin Shahzad
Asstpriest:John Mendoncea

St. Peter's Church is the largest Catholic church in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Construction

The church was built in 11 months, covers an area of 1,858 square meters and can seat 5,000 people. It stands over 24 meters in height. All the windows are of stained glass depicting different religious events. It cost US$3.8 million to build.[1]

Opening

The Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra blessed the church at a Mass concelebrated by 37 priests from around the country. The Apostolic Nuncio read a message of Pope Benedict XVI to Pakistani Catholics. Later the Papal Nuncio also blessed the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, a room built of glass in a corner of the church open for prayer 24 hours of the day.[2]

Miscellaneous

The church will cater to the people of Akhtar Colony, Mahmudabad, Kashmir Colony and Manzoor Colony.[3]

Funding for the project came from the Pontifical Mission Societies, Missio, the Rothenberg diocese in Germany and the Italian Bishop's Conference.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Russell . Mark . In Karachi Slum, a 5K-Seat Megachurch . Newser . 2011-11-20 . 2020-12-07.
  2. http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Karachi,-Pakistan’s-largest-Catholic-church-is-inaugurated-23157.html AsiaNews 12 November 2011
  3. http://tribune.com.pk/story/292427/st-patricks-cathedral-left-behind-countrys-largest-catholic-church-opens-in-karachis-akhtar-colony/ Country’s largest Catholic church opens in Karachi’s Akhtar Colony
  4. http://www.ucanews.com/2011/11/11/check-nuncio-blesses-countrys-largest-church/ UCANews 11 November 2011