Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (COLA) in Bandar Seri Begawan
Although Brunei is a Muslim country, there are a few thousand Catholics living in this place. Most of which are expatriates from the neighboring Asian countries. To cater to the spiritual needs of these folks, there are a few churches dotted around Brunei. Luckily, one of the three parishes is at its capital, Bandar Seri Begawan; the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.
Along a quiet street in Bandar
Seri Begawan, you’ll see a tree with a simple signage indicating you
found your faith’s resting place. It’s a quaint house of worship, with not much
space but with an armful of serenity and passion. The people who come in are almost
in a slow pace, checking the place and understanding their purpose.
Stepping inside the Church, the
first thing you’ll notice is how it resembles much like a retreat house. For
some reason, it reminded me of Christian Living Education
sessions way back. The chairs and pews are all wooden, the ceilings are humbler
and the place is as clean and peaceful as it should. Everything is kept simple,
except the altar where you’ll find a few embellishments and spiritual step ups.
One thing that’s really likable about this place is the tiled wall art of the Our Lady of Assumption. It looks glorious amidst the simplicity of the white walls. Just like how the rest of this parish addresses the Catholic faith in this Muslim nation – bringing peacefulness and faith.
[BRUNEI TRAVEL] Read
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