RAS AL KHAIMAH: Vatican representative Cardinal Fernando Filoni to open the new Dh18.5 million Catholic church in Ras Al Khaimah on Friday.
Cardinal Filoni,the Vaticans Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of People,will consecrate the 5,000 square metre St.Anthony of Padua Church in the Al Jazira Al Hamra district,about 25 km from the city.
The officials who will be attending the event include Archbishop Petar Rajic, Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula and Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia.
“This is a great achievement,” said Fr Galdolf Josef, 73-year-old secretary of Abu Dhabi-based Bishop Paul Hinder,
“Ras Al Khaimah is developing quite a bit, especially its industries and tourism, and so is the number of migrant workers. We are thankful to the Ruler (of Ras Al Khaimah) for giving us the land.”
Its known that there are about 6,000 Catholics in Ras Al Khaimah, said the Swiss prelate.
Stated that in UAE there are an estimated 700,000 Catholics who go to 10 churches and served by about 40 priests speaking a dozen languages.
This 1,200-seat church can accommodate up to 1,500 worshippers and two major roads link the new church to Umm Al Qwain, Ajman and Sharjah.
A new church is also under construction in Abu Dhabis Mussafah industrial district on a 5,000 square metre land granted by the government.