AL AIN // A new church built to accommodate an increasing number of parishioners opened its doors for the first time this week.
St Mary's Catholic Church, near Oasis Hospital, officially accommodates 1,550 worshippers.
But on Tuesday, 2,500 of the 4,000 congregation squeezed into the Dh15 million (US$4m) church to celebrate its inaugural Mass.
The capacity of the original church, built 40 years ago, was 250. It was demolished last year to make way for the new building.
Tuesday's service, at which the new church was consecrated, was held by Bishop Paul Hinder, the Vicar Apostolic of Arabia.
Before the Mass, St Mary's parish priest, Father Anthony Puthenpurakkal, 39, recalled the limitations of the old church.
"For many years, worshippers had to gather outside when the building couldn't accommodate the number of parishioners attending the services. The original building was just too small," he said.
The deeds were first signed over to the Catholic community by Sheikh Zayed, the late President of the UAE, in 1969. St Mary's was constructed in the same year under the guidance of the then parish priest, Father Barnabas Madii.
On Monday, the new church was officially opened by Sheikh Hazza bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the under-secretary of the Royal Court and the Ruler's Representative for the Eastern Region. The ceremony was attended by Bishop Hinder, Father Anthony, St Mary's parish councillors and other church and government dignitaries.
"Sheikh Hazza was gracious to come," said the parish councillor Matthew Keenan, 54, an American who lectures at UAE University.
"His coming and sitting next to the Bishop was a symbol of tolerance and understanding."
Contributions from Catholic communities within the GCC and local parishioners, plus a bank loan, paid for the new church. Construction began in October last year.
"That the church was completed in the given time frame of just over a year was nothing short of a miracle," Father Anthony said.
"There was tremendous support from the Government and the Catholics in the [region]," Bishop Hinder said.
"Otherwise, I don't think the community in Al Ain would have been able to do it by themselves. But that is what is wonderful in our church - that the solidarity all over the country is always playing a key role." The new church was designed and built by the local civil engineering company Nael General Contracting.
It features floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows. The ground floor seats 750 worshippers and the basement holds 600. There is seating for a further 200 on the first-floor balcony.
There is also a choir room, facilities for mothers and babies, and two confessionals. A lack of funds meant the planned vicarage has been put on hold.
Santush Matthias, 28, a banker in Dubai who comes from Bangalore, India, attended the ceremony on Tuesday night.
"The old building was too congested but people dealt with it," he said. "This new building looks very good. I love the stained glass windows. I had never seen that before."
The church holds two daily services during the week. On Saturdays and Sundays, four services are held each day, two in Arabic, one in English and one in Urdu.
ealghalib@thenational.ae
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
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On sale: Now
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