VISITA IGLESIA:Catholic Churches in UAE part 2

Jump to PART 1 if you haven't read it yet.

continuation....

After a couple of minutes checking out and taking pictures of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali we proceeded to our next church destination in downtown Dubai.

Next church: The St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai

The St. Mary's Catholic Church  was build around middle 60's here in UAE. His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E donated land in 1966 to build a Church. Rev. Fr. Eusebius Daveri and his team pioneered this project. His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurated St. Mary's Catholic Church on 7th April 1967. 

Today in this very place stands a magnificent new church that has been designed to accommodate more than 1700 worshipers at each service. Under the guidance of His Excellency Most. Rev. Bishop Bernard Gremoli, Rev. Fr. Daniel Cerofolini OFM. Cap, Fr. Michael Cardoz and their team pioneered this project. This church was inaugurated on 3rd November 1989.

Inside the compound facing the main entrance to Church

The Grotto

The sign at the entrance of the Church compound

We did the 5th and 6th station of the cross here and contemplate the agony and remembering the painful journey of Christ towards crucifixion. After we finished pray we checked the church again but we can't go inside as it was already overcrowded with people. Makeshift tents were installed to shed the faithfuls from heat and ventilation and fan was also provided. Even with the great scourging heat of the sun churchgoers were flowing to join the lenten mass.

The group hit the road again with a little travel going to the next emirate, to the next church destination. 

Next Church: St. Michael's Church, Sharjah

According to their website (please click the link) the church history was way back from the year 1971.

"The old St. Michael’s Church was founded in 1971 by Fr. Barnabas as a little chapel close to the British Air force base. In 1973 Fr. Barnabas moved   into the old St. Michael’s Church which was then the British officers’ mess. The kitchen area was converted into the Parish house.

Father Barnabas was succeeded by Fathers Attilio, Edmund, Antonino, Felicio, Godwin and Angelo. These Pastors worked with dedication and zeal. As a result the flock continued to grow rapidly. Inspite of the fact, that each of these priests expanded and embellished the converted church, there was still a lack of place to accommodate the parishioners.

Under the guidance and support of Bishop Bernard Gremoli the new church was built by Fr. Angelo Fiumicelli and his dedicated team. The new St. Michael’s Church was consecrated on 02nd October 1997 by Cardinal Artinze from the Vatican with Fr. Angelo as the first Parish Priest." 

- Fr. Ani Xavier Ofm. Cap. 

  Parish Priest 

  St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah

This is what you see upon entering the Church compound

 

 

 

The Church amidst the sea of people during Good Friday

We did the 7th and 8th station of the cross on this church and proceeded to the next church of destination. It's only a few minutes that we were allowed to stay as we need to follow the time frame we have in out itinerary but despite of that seeing this churches for the first time still breathtaking to us, not from it's design, nor from how it looks but by the mere presence of the church on this country is simply marvelous. 

... next our long travel to Ras Al Khaimah to visit St. Anthony de Padua Church.

 

Visita Iglesia: Catholic Churches in UAE

Me and my wife had the opportunity to join the Visita Iglesia on Good Friday organized by the elders of the Couple for Christ here in Abu Dhabi. Without hesitation we joined the said event to make it as our way of doing sacrifice in this lenten season and of course the opportunity to see all the churches of the seven emirates of UAE. Catholics in this country is very lucky and grateful that the ruler of this middle east sheikdom allowed Christians to exercise their faith as well as giving space to build churches for prayers.

The said trip also followed the way of the cross that our Christ suffers up to crucifixion as we remembered and prayed. Two stations of the cross in every church we visited.

We kick off the said event around 6am in the morning starting with the first and second stations in our very own St. Joseph Cathedral here in Abu Dhabi. 

The facade of the Cathedral upon entering on its compound

According to their site this Parish has over 100,000 expatriate Catholics from all over the world.

With the growing economy within the region, the Church has also witnessed a steady increase in the number of faithful. Masses are celebrated in a number of different languages and the Church is generally seen packed to full capacity at most services.

Inside the St. Joseph Cathedral during a mass celebration

 After commemorating the first and second station of the cross we hurriedly boarded to our assigned buses that would bring us to our next church to be visited. There were seven buses with approximately 30 faithfuls in each bus. 

We boarded bus number 5, with us is our co-participants of the CFC-Christian Life Program, our couple DGL, our CFC Elders and some CFC members. 

Our convoy of buses getting ready at the break of dawn for the Visita Iglesia

  

Our next stop: St. Francis of Assisi church

The St. Francis of Assisi Church is located just off of Sheik Zayed road beside the village of Jebel Ali, in the emirates of Dubai. It is near the Ibn Batuta Mall and The Gardens in Jebel Ali interchange.

The St. Francis of Assisi church was inaugurated in November 2001 as part of the Vicarate of Arabia, presently pastored by Bishop Paul Hinder. It is a parish comprised of many nationalities from around the world. We are diverse communities united in one body of Christ

The entrance to the church of St. Francis of Assisi, Jebel Ali Dubai

To GOD be the glory....

The Grotto inside the church compound.

Inside the St. Francis of Assisi Church

Inside the compound of the church.

We stayed at St. Francis church approximately 30 minutes. We prayed and did the third and fourth station of the cross. After that we were given 10 minutes to take pictures and check out the church vicinity before we leaved to our next church destination.

 ... to be continued  --->>>   jump to PART 2