St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Jebel Ali
Encyclopedia
Jebel Ali Church or Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Dubai
was inaugurated in November 2001 as part of the Vicariate of Arabia
, presently pastored by Bishop Paul Hinder. Residents of the parish are of many nationalities from around the world, living mainly as expatriate
s in Dubai. The church is situated just off Sheikh Zayed Road
in Jebel Ali
. Jebel Ali
is situated on a small mountain in the desert. The name itself means ‘Great Mountain’. It is easily accessible from The Gardens/Ibn Battuta Mall
and from the Jebel Ali Village interchanges.
, Dubai
where Rev. Fr. Daniel Cerofolini OFM Cap
was the Parish Priest
. He blessed and laid the foundation stone on 4 October 2000. The construction of the entire church building was done within a period of one year. The church was consecrated on November 15, 2001 by Archbishop Giuseppe de Andrea, the Apostolic Delegate of Arabian Peninsula. Almost 3000 people took part in the ceremony.
A list of all the priests who have served the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jebel Ali since 2000 when it came into existence.
The parish land area is 50,000 ft2. It comprises a single building of three parts. The church is adjoined by the Assisi Parish Hall. There is also a systematically constructed Padua Centre with fifteen halls, which can be used for Catechesis and Prayer meetings. The residential area and the office are another part of the construction. The plan and the architecture provide also a basement-parking space for 70 cars.
The mosaic picture of Jesus
embracing St. Francis
from the Cross decorates the sanctuary of the Church.
This is the second Church within the Emirate of Dubai
which began to serve the spiritual needs of Christians living in Jebel Ali Free Zone
, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Village
, Jebel Ali Gardens and Jumeirah
.
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
was inaugurated in November 2001 as part of the Vicariate of Arabia
Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia
The Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the United Arab Emirates. It is a territorial jurisdiction of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church covering the following countries of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region: Oman, United...
, presently pastored by Bishop Paul Hinder. Residents of the parish are of many nationalities from around the world, living mainly as expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s in Dubai. The church is situated just off Sheikh Zayed Road
Sheikh Zayed Road
E 11 is a highway in the United Arab Emirates. The longest road in the UAE, E 11 streches from Al Silah in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ends in Ras Al Khaimah emirate at the Oman border, running roughly parallel to UAE's coastline along the Persian Gulf...
in Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali is a port town, located 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . The village has a thriving expatriate community with over 300 residents. The area is also home to "5,500 companies from 120 countries"....
. Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali is a port town, located 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . The village has a thriving expatriate community with over 300 residents. The area is also home to "5,500 companies from 120 countries"....
is situated on a small mountain in the desert. The name itself means ‘Great Mountain’. It is easily accessible from The Gardens/Ibn Battuta Mall
Ibn Battuta Mall
The Ibn Battuta Mall is a large shopping mall on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai close to Interchange 6 for Jebel Ali Village. It is named after Berber Moroccan famous traveller and explorer Ibn Battuta. This project was completed by the Nakheel Properties group in early 2005...
and from the Jebel Ali Village interchanges.
History
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was in the territory of St. Mary’s ChurchSt. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai
St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai is a church founded by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. In 1966 he donated land to build the church. Rev. Fr. Eusebius Daveri and his team pioneered this project. The late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
where Rev. Fr. Daniel Cerofolini OFM Cap
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
was the Parish Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He blessed and laid the foundation stone on 4 October 2000. The construction of the entire church building was done within a period of one year. The church was consecrated on November 15, 2001 by Archbishop Giuseppe de Andrea, the Apostolic Delegate of Arabian Peninsula. Almost 3000 people took part in the ceremony.
A list of all the priests who have served the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jebel Ali since 2000 when it came into existence.
- Bishop Bernard Gremoli
- Fr. Daniel Cerofolini
- Fr. John Fernandaz
- Fr. Ani Xavier
- Fr. Wilson Pascal
- Fr. Conrad D'Souza
- Fr. Thomas Quadros
- Fr. Johnson K. Joseph
- Bishop Paul Hinder
- Fr. Warnakulasuriya Anthony Fernando
- Fr. Peter Kadamankod
- Fr. Eugene Mattioli
The parish land area is 50,000 ft2. It comprises a single building of three parts. The church is adjoined by the Assisi Parish Hall. There is also a systematically constructed Padua Centre with fifteen halls, which can be used for Catechesis and Prayer meetings. The residential area and the office are another part of the construction. The plan and the architecture provide also a basement-parking space for 70 cars.
The mosaic picture of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
embracing St. Francis
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
from the Cross decorates the sanctuary of the Church.
This is the second Church within the Emirate of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
which began to serve the spiritual needs of Christians living in Jebel Ali Free Zone
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Jebel Ali Free Zone is a free economic zone located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, near Abu Dhabi...
, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Village
Jebel Ali village
Jebel Ali Village is the re-development of the existing Jebel Ali village.The existing Jebel Ali village was constructed in 1977 to provide accommodation to expatriates.The construction on re-development of Jebel Ali village has already began in 2008, and expected to be completed by 2013.The...
, Jebel Ali Gardens and Jumeirah
Jumeirah
Jumeirah literally means "beautiful." It is a coastal residential area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates mainly comprising low rise private dwellings. It is administratively divided into three neighborhoods titled "Jumeirah 1," Jumeirah 2" and "Jumeirah 3." It has both expensive and large detached...
.