His Grace Nugent bids farewell to Kuwait: ‘A part of my heart will remain here’
Apostolic Nuncio reflects on friendship, hospitality and shared memories as he prepares to take up new mission in Prague
The Times Kuwait Report
His Grace Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, bid an emotional farewell to Kuwait, saying that while his next assignment will take him to the Czech Republic, “a part of my heart will remain here.”
Reflecting on his years in Kuwait and the wider Gulf, His Grace described his mission as an exceptional chapter of his life, one shaped not only by major regional and international developments but, above all, by the people he met, the friendships he formed and the hospitality he experienced.
His Grace was speaking at a special farewell reception hosted by Titus E.D., General Manager Aman Exchange, at the Crowne Plaza last week. The gathering brought together friends, members of the diplomatic corps, religious leaders and representatives of the expatriate community to bid farewell to the Apostolic Nuncio as he prepares to take up his new assignment in the Czech Republic.
An evening of friendship and memories
The farewell programme began with music and an instrumental performance, followed by the arrival of guests and a formal welcome to His Grace. Titus E.D., General Manager of Aman Exchange, delivered the opening address, thanking those present for joining the gathering to honour His Grace and expressing appreciation for the friendships and relationships built over the years. A special farewell message from Mr. Adel Yousef Al Muzaini Managing Partner, Aman Exchange , was also conveyed during the evening.
The programme then moved into a series of farewell messages from Father Savio D’Souza, Ashok Kalra, CA Venkata Ramana, Reaven D’Souza and Father Reuben Barramada. A slideshow documenting His Grace’s journey in the Middle East offered guests an opportunity to revisit some of the memorable moments of his years in the region.
The evening also featured a live Irish song, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony with His Grace in the presence of ambassadors Bhutan, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka and the DCM of Bangladesh Embassy and members of the Titus family. A memento was later presented to His Grace, followed by group photographs with ambassadors, reverend priests and sisters.
‘What I will take with me is the people’
Looking back on his years in the Gulf, His Grace said his tenure had coincided with some of the most challenging developments of recent times. He arrived in the region as the world was gradually emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. His years in the Gulf subsequently witnessed the war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict and heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran developments that brought periods of anxiety and uncertainty to people across the region.
Yet, despite these major events, His Grace said it was not the political crises that would remain most strongly in his memory. It was the people. Some of his most cherished memories, he said, were of ordinary human encounters conversations, shared meals, religious celebrations, school visits, national occasions, community gatherings and meetings with young people.
He recalled administering Catholic sacraments, including Confirmation and First Communion, and spoke of numerous encounters that may have begun as formal meetings but gradually developed into genuine friendships.
For His Grace, these relationships became an important part of his mission. He reflected that some of the strongest bridges between people are built around a dining table, recalling the many meals and gatherings that gave him an opportunity to experience Kuwait beyond official engagements.
Visits to camps, chalets and diwaniyas allowed him to experience the country’s renowned hospitality at a personal level, while his interaction with Kuwaitis and expatriates from different nationalities gave him a deeper appreciation of Kuwait’s diverse social fabric.
Friendship beyond religion and borders
A recurring theme of His Grace’s farewell message was the ability of friendship to transcend differences. His years in Kuwait and the Gulf, he said, had taught him that genuine human relationships can cross the boundaries of nationality, religion, language and culture.
“I came here with a message of dialogue and encounter, but I leave having received far more than I could ever have given,” he said. The words reflected the way His Grace approached his mission in Kuwait.
For His Grace, dialogue was not simply a diplomatic principle but something experienced through personal interaction over a meal, during a community gathering, in a school or through a simple conversation. It was these relationships, he indicated, that would be among the most valuable memories he takes with him.
From the Kuwait sun to Prague’s winter
His Grace also brought some humour to his farewell as he reflected on the very different climate awaiting him in Prague. He noted that he would soon be exchanging the familiar Kuwait sun for the cold winter of the Czech Republic.
He joked that, once he experienced the Prague winter, he might occasionally wonder why he had ever complained about Kuwait’s heat. But behind the humour was a clear affection for Kuwait.
“Wherever the road takes me, a part of my heart will remain here,” he said. The words captured the spirit of the farewell an evening that was less about saying goodbye to an official and more about celebrating a friendship that had grown over several years.
Remembering historic moments
His Grace also reflected on some of the major milestones of his Gulf mission. Among the highlights was Pope Francis’ historic visit to Bahrain in November 2022, which he described as an unforgettable occasion and a powerful expression of dialogue, fraternity and peaceful coexistence.
He also recalled the visit of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, to Kuwait, and the elevation of Our Lady of Arabia Church in Ahmadi to the status of a Minor Basilica.
The elevation, he said, represented an important moment for the Catholic community in Kuwait and recognised the longstanding presence of the Church in the country. Another set of memories came from his visits to American and Italian military bases, where he celebrated Mass during Christmas and Easter.
Those visits gave His Grace an opportunity to meet men and women serving far from their home countries. Behind the uniforms and institutions, he said, were people carrying personal responsibilities, making sacrifices and seeking moments of prayer, friendship and community.
A farewell filled with gratitude
As his Gulf mission comes to an end, His Grace’s reflections were ultimately centred on gratitude. He thanked his friends in Kuwait for their friendship and hospitality, as well as for the laughter, conversations, journeys, meals and moments of shared prayer that had become part of his life in the region.
His farewell was not simply the conclusion of an official posting. It was an acknowledgement of the relationships that had developed over the years. His Grace also prayed for Kuwait and the Gulf countries, wishing the region peace, stability and prosperity, and expressing hope that the friendships formed across communities would continue long after his departure.
His Grace leaves Kuwait for a new mission in Europe carrying with him the memories of a country he came to know not merely through its institutions, but through its people and its extraordinary hospitality. The formal programme concluded with a vote of thanks after which dinner and live music continued into the evening.
