Pakistan Church Suspends Worship as Monsoon Floods Inundate Historic Parish

A historic Catholic church in Pakistan's Punjab province has suspended public worship after monsoon floodwaters inundated its sanctuary and surrounding parish compound, forcing clergy and parishioners to rescue sacred items while hundreds of families cope with widespread flooding.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church, located in Gujrat District in northern Punjab between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, was submerged by rising floodwaters on July 26 after days of heavy monsoon rains.

The flooding forced the parish to cancel its Sunday Mass and the weekly Tuesday devotion to St. Anthony, leaving around 500 Catholic families without their regular liturgical celebrations. At the time of reporting, church services remained suspended as cleanup efforts continued.

Floodwaters also entered the convent of the Dominican Sisters, St. Mary's School, and the catechists' residences within the church compound.

Parishioners and church workers spent hours removing water and salvaging liturgical books, altar vessels, and other sacred objects to protect them from further damage and preserve the church's historic property.

Fr. Abid Saleem, OMI, parish priest of Holy Rosary Church, said four water pumps had been installed to drain the compound, but the work has been slow because the church building sits about three feet below the level of the surrounding roads.

"The task remains extremely difficult," he said, explaining that continuous water inflow has hampered drainage efforts.

In addition to flooding from the surrounding area, water leaking through the roof damaged carpets in the sanctuary and caused minor damage to wooden furnishings inside the 1,800-square-foot church.

Rather than appealing for financial assistance, Fr. Saleem asked the faithful to pray for the safety and well-being of parishioners, many of whom are struggling with flooded homes and difficult living conditions.

Families in nearby low-lying neighborhoods continue to face standing water, damaged household belongings, intermittent electricity, and increased health risks from mosquitoes, damp conditions, and waterborne diseases.

Despite the hardship, the parish priest expressed hope for the future. He said a new church is under construction on higher ground and is expected to be completed by September or October.

Once finished, the new church will provide the Catholic community with a larger and more flood-resistant place of worship.

Meanwhile, parish life has continued through the efforts of catechists, lay leaders, and parishioners who have organized prayer gatherings and Rosary services in private homes while the church remains inaccessible.

"By opening their homes to neighbors, our faithful have ensured that prayer and Christian fellowship continue despite the disaster," Fr. Saleem said.

The heavy rains also affected other Christian communities in Gujrat. Nearby St. Andrew's Church, a Protestant congregation, was flooded, disrupting Sunday worship until the premises could be drained.

The flooding in Gujrat is part of a wider monsoon emergency affecting Pakistan. According to media reports, rain-related incidents since June 26 have claimed more than 100 lives, injured about 400 people, damaged nearly 500 homes, and killed almost 300 livestock across the country, with Punjab among the hardest-hit provinces.