All Comments (3)

Thanks for your article.
With my husband, I raised 3 children in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and shares its western border with Saudi Arabia. We lived in Abu Dhabi for over 18 years and loved it.

Prior to our move, my husband had noticed the small St. Joseph Church on the Cornish and was satisfied that we would be able to attend Sunday mass. What a blessing God showered on us. I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of Christ and His gift to us.

It is the midsts of the Muslim world, surrounded with daily prayer from nearby Mosques, I learned to love the one God in a deeper way than in all the countries I had lived before.

I got to see and appreciate the deep prayerlife of devout Muslims, how Allah is present throughout the day, a reality in the daily life of Muslims.

Living out-side the Christian world, yet in among people who believe in God (Molems share vaguely and partially parts of the Old Testament with us), gave me the vantage point of looking at Christianity from the outside. What an eye-opener this was. I learned to appreciate anew that God revealed himself in Christ and what an unestimable gift Christ has given to all men.

There I experienced Christ's presence as nowhere before in a real and deep way esp. when participating with thousands of Catholics in the celebration of Christ's birth, passion and resurrection. The crowds were each time huge multi-lingual, the celebrations beautiful, long with readings in many languages. At the time all Christian symbols, reminders of Christmas, songs, music, Christmas decoration etc. were strictly forbidden. But when we received Christ in Holy Communion HIS PRESENCE in our midst was so real. HE WAS WITH US despite of all restrictions we endured from every side. These celebrations were the most joyous celebration I experienced in my life. At the end, unable to uncontainable the spiritual joy, many friends and strangers would hug and kiss each other, "Merry Christmas, Happy Easter"... What an experience!

Both the orthodox celebrations and teaching given by the priests, Bishop and at Parish retreats, in Bible studies, CCD, different prayer groups AND the love and friendship I experienced while attending St. Joseph's from other parishioners, brothers and sisters in Christ whose native language was Konkani, Tagalog, Arabic, Malayalam, Maltese, German, French, Italian, Swaheli, Spanish, Croatian, Singalese many others, from several different rites, but all Roman Catholics, was truly a foretaste of heaven.
Anna Chaney

Nice job, Patrick. The UAE is to be commended. I should think that our common father, Abraham, is pleased to see Christians and Muslims living and working so harmoniously together. It occurs to me that we should be hearing more here about the good efforts of the UAE than about the bad doings of some in other countries of the region. As a further example of globilization in an ecclesiastical setting, I recall the last time I attended Mass in the parish church of my youth. I gave the peace to my neighbor in the pew in Spanish and noted in the parish bulletin that I could confess my sins on Saturdays in Tagalog or Bisayan. Ciao, Kevin

Dear Patrick...
Sister Donna has kept me in the loop. I'm so proud of you, and my niece Kerry, and excited for your new life there. Hmmm..I think that makes me an Aunt in Law, or is it "once removed"?

love
joan of St. Pete Beach