Nearly 7,500 miles from home, content creator Subrina and her husband made it a priority to continue attending Mass—even while traveling abroad.
During their visit to Kathmandu, Nepal, the newlyweds shared a powerful witness of faith in a country where Hinduism is the dominant religion.
In a video posted to her Instagram account, Subrina reflected on her experience at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a church deeply tied to her family history.
“Ever since I can remember, the Catholic side of my family has been attending the Church of the Assumption when we visit Kathmandu,” she shared.
The couple traveled from their home in New York to Nepal to visit family and celebrate their recent marriage with loved ones who were unable to attend their wedding in the United States.
Throughout the trip, they remained committed to their Catholic faith and attended Mass at the cathedral.
In the video, Subrina explains that while Nepal is a predominantly Hindu country, it is home to a small yet vibrant Catholic community. The cathedral itself reflects a beautiful harmony between Catholic worship and local culture.
Visitors remove their shoes before entering, holy water is held in a copper bowl, and instead of traditional pews, the faithful sit on cushions on the floor.
After Mass, the couple explored the church grounds, where they found an image of the Virgin Mary and a sign displaying the Memorare prayer written in both English and Nepali—a striking reminder of the universality of the Catholic faith.
The grounds also include a columbarium, which Subrina notes is necessary because “there isn’t much space for burials here.”
“Very memento mori,” her husband adds in the video.
The video has received more than 24,000 likes and sparked heartfelt reactions from viewers worldwide, many of whom were moved by the beauty of the Church’s universality.
“That’s why the Catholic Church is the universal Church! There’s always a place where Mass is celebrated,” one user commented. “I also love that people go in without shoes! Catholic churches in Japan have the same practice, and it helps keep the church clean 😊.”
Another user shared, “I am a Catholic from India, from the southern state of Kerala. Even though we also have our own traditions intertwined with the beauty and spirit of the Catholic Church, I still wasn’t prepared when I visited this church in Nepal a couple of years ago. It was beautiful, and the way Nepalese elements were incorporated into the church was amazing. It definitely holds a special place in my heart—a haven of peace amid the sounds and chaos of metropolitan life in Kathmandu ❤️.”
A third commenter added, “This place is truly beautiful. ❤️ I visited it during my trip to Nepal. Even today, the story of the terrorist attack resonates as a powerful testimony of unwavering faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”