ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - New parish center inaugurated by the Minister of Culture

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) - Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development of the United Arab Emirates, took part in the recent inauguration of the new parish center of St. Joseph's parish, in Abu Dhabi. As local sources of Fides report, the inauguration took place on October 9, and also saw the participation of Ali Al Hashimi, Managing Director of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Bishop Paul Hinder, OFM Cap, Apostolic Vicar of Arabia South, expressed gratitude to the President of the UAE and all government officials, for having granted the required permissions and having endorsed the completion of the work at the service of the vibrant and varied local Catholic community, made up of immigrants from various Countries. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan said he was delighted to host the Cathedral of the Apostolic Vicariate in Abu Dhabi, reiterating that the policy of the UAE intends to ensure compliance with the various foreign communities that have settled in their own territory for work reasons, also at a religious level. The Minister urged the Catholic community to support the Emirates in their commitment to develop as a "global nation", interested in cultivating harmonious coexistence alongside economic growth.
In the UAE, foreign immigrants for business reasons account for 70 percent of the 4 million residents, and among them more than half are baptized. Catholics alone - mostly Filipinos and Indians - are around one million. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2014)


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