Church of Our Lady of Lourdes - Casablanca, Morocco

The religious demographic of Morocco is 99 percent Muslim. Predominantly Sunni Muslim. While Islam is considered the State Religion, Christians and Jews and members of other faiths are permitted to worship as they choose, although there appear to be some inconsistencies regarding this issue. While there are some Jews who are ethnically Moroccan or Berber, the Christians are almost exclusively from Europe or other countries. During our vacation, we visited many Muslim places of worship, so it was interesting to see a Christian one when we arrived in Casablanca.

Upon our arrival at the church early in the morning, we were notified by the armed security out front that the church was not open to tourists yet. A few phone calls later, and we were permitted to enter the church and admire the beauty of a structure that looks like it has seen better years. The church has a grand appearance that gives it a sense of a long lost magnificence. It appears to have suffered from age and a bit of neglect. The exterior was in serious need of some sandblasting and a new coat of paint. However, the church still managed a regal presence among the towering palm trees.

Just inside the church property was a small grotto in memory of Our Lady of Lourdes. I am not Catholic and admit that I am unfamiliar with Catholic Saints and notables. I went to wikipedia for some help on that front and discovered that Our Lady of Lourdes is a reference to the Virgin Mary, which makes sense given the statuary and engravings within the grotto. The moniker is one that comes from apparitions of the Virgin Mary that appeared in Lourdes, France in the late nineteenth century. That makes sense given the fact that Morocco was once colonized by the French. The French influence remains indelible on the language and culture of Morocco.

The interior of the church was far more impressive than the exterior. The massive vaulted ceiling must create an interesting acoustic effect for the incredible massive pipe organ at the rear of the church. The flanks of the sanctuary allowed natural light to penetrate the chapel through intricate stained glass windows running the length of the sanctuary. There was a bit of artwork to be found within the chapel as well.

I damaged my camera taking photos in the desert. So my low-light photos did not turn out very well. Apologies. I will have to get a new camera for my next vacation. My iPhone did manage to capture some good photos, so at least my outdoor photos and some of my indoor photos turned out okay. Protip: Be careful taking cameras into the desert to take photos. It was very windy when we went and quite a few cameras were damaged. Get a cheap one to take with you if you are heading into the Sahara. I did get a couple of photos of the amazing pipe organ in this church, although they could be better as well.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is still a functional congregation. Although a small minority in Morocco, Christianity maintains a tenuous presence here. Thankfully, it is accepted by the government. This church provides a glimpse into that past for visiting Christians.

All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.

Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.