About the Church
The Church of St Joseph in Smiltene (Smiltenes Svētā Jāzepa Romas katoļu baznīca) is a Roman Catholic church in the town of Smiltene, in the Vidzeme region of northern Latvia. It is the town's newest place of prayer, open to the faithful since 2002, when it was consecrated by Cardinal Jānis Pujāts.
The church belongs to the Vidzeme Deanery of the Riga Archdiocese. Its tower holds a bell weighing about 100 kilograms, cast in Kraków, Poland. Small but lively, the parish gathers the local Catholic community in a region where the Lutheran faith has historically predominated.
The church is dedicated to St Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron of workers. It serves as the spiritual centre for Smiltene's Catholics, where the Eucharist is celebrated and the sacraments are administered.
The church belongs to the Vidzeme Deanery of the Riga Archdiocese. Its tower holds a bell weighing about 100 kilograms, cast in Kraków, Poland. Small but lively, the parish gathers the local Catholic community in a region where the Lutheran faith has historically predominated.
The church is dedicated to St Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and patron of workers. It serves as the spiritual centre for Smiltene's Catholics, where the Eucharist is celebrated and the sacraments are administered.