About the Church
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Māra) in Liepāja is the newest Catholic church in the city, standing in its northern part, in the Laumas neighbourhood, on Koku Street. It is dedicated to Mary, affectionately known in Latvian tradition as Māra.
The idea for the church arose in the early 21st century, when the parish of St Joseph acquired a plot of land for a new house of prayer. The foundation stone was blessed in 2005, and in 2009 the Bishop of Liepāja, Vilhelms Lapelis, blessed the church's chapel.
It is a dark red-brick building in a modern style, with a spacious prayer hall, a sacristy and a charity canteen; beside it rises a bell tower some 30 metres tall with an electronically operated bell. The design by the architects Ausma and Judīte Skujiņa was rated one of the best works of Latvian architecture of 2009.
The church serves the Catholic community of northern Liepāja and, together with its charitable work, serves the social side of city life.
The idea for the church arose in the early 21st century, when the parish of St Joseph acquired a plot of land for a new house of prayer. The foundation stone was blessed in 2005, and in 2009 the Bishop of Liepāja, Vilhelms Lapelis, blessed the church's chapel.
It is a dark red-brick building in a modern style, with a spacious prayer hall, a sacristy and a charity canteen; beside it rises a bell tower some 30 metres tall with an electronically operated bell. The design by the architects Ausma and Judīte Skujiņa was rated one of the best works of Latvian architecture of 2009.
The church serves the Catholic community of northern Liepāja and, together with its charitable work, serves the social side of city life.