For the first time, a meeting of the Catholic religion teachers was held along with Bp Paolo Martinelli who addressed them words of gratitude for their dedication, elements of reflection on their mission especially on the specific context we live in, and encouraging them to be witnesses.
On the occasion of the World Youth Day on 24 November 2024, Pope Francis addressed a special message to the youth of the vicariate thanks to Bp Paolo who had met him in Rome. "Youth is the time of life to SOW"
A mini WYD was held in in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE on November 24, bringing together youth from across the vicariate for a day of fellowship, and reflection. Mgr. Paolo Martinelli was present to guide and support the youth throughout the day.
Bp Paolo participated in the Catholic Congress Middle-East Leaders Conference in Dubai along with Arch. Rafael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church
Bp Paolo participated in the Syro-Malabar Day 2024 in St Mary's parish in Dubai along with Arch. Rafael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, and Mgr. Christophe El-Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE and Yemen.
Advent reminds us of the first coming of the Lord, and of his coming at the end of time and while waiting, he does not stop coming among us. He never leaves us alone. Let us not weigh down our hearts with distractions and useless worries. Let us say every day with our hearts: come Lord Jesus, come among us, we need you, we love you.
Bp Paolo celebrated mass on 2nd December , emphasizing how the readings bring interesting light to celebrate the UAE national Day. He invited all to pray for this nation that promotes tolerance, hospitality and prosperity, in which we are welcomed, for the rulers, that they may always be guided by divine wisdom. As Catholics, we want to give our strong contribution to the building up of a more fraternal and human world.
Bp Paolo Martinelli addresses a message to the faithful of the Vicariate of Southern Arabia for Advent, a time of waiting in which we are invited to recognize our deepest needs, our highest desires and purify our hearts, and a time of hope.
Bp Paolo announces that, in our Vicariate, the Jubilee Year will be celebrated from 29 December 2024 to 28 December 2025 and the Shrine Churches designated for pilgrimage and Plenary indulgence are St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E. and Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Ruwi, Muscat, Oman.
Bp Paolo Martinelli welcomed Arch. Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church on Monday, 25 November 2024 in Muscat, Oman. Mgr Thattil is on an eight-day visit to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. He will visit the Syro-Malabar faithful of Oman and UAE.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia mourns the passing away of Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and a member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity
Jesus conquered evil and death. We are certain that divine providence does not abandon us and works so that the kingdom of God comes on earth, in our heart, as we say : your kingdom come! The kingdom of God begins among us when we are united and when we are loved, when we make the gospel our rule of life.
This congress was organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Oasis Foundation, in collaboration with the Interfaith & Ecumenical Dialogue Office of the Vicariate, and St Francis Church at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi.
On Sunday 3rd of November, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia witnessed a historic moment: the blessing of St Francis of Assisi Church at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, and the dedication of its altar.
Starting December 1, 2024, all parishes of the Vicariate must use liturgical texts based on the New American Bible translation of Holy Scriptures. Clergy and faithful are advised to check the Scripture translation of any people's missals or hand missals before purchase.
On Sunday 3rd of November, the ceremony of the blessing of St Francis of Assisi church at the Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi, and the dedication of its altar, was presided over by H. E. Arch. Christophe El-Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE and Yemen, and the homily was given by H.E. Bp Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar.
On the 2nd of November, Bp Paolo inaugurated the new outdoor gathering area of St Anthony's parish in Ras Al Khaimah, "that will favor the joyful gathering of the faithful to pray, to share gifts and to walk together".
We too are called to be saints, to be united with God in love and to love one another as Jesus loved us. When we think of the saints, we must not think of heroes, distant from us and unreachable. The saints are men and women like us who have lived their vocation to holiness and have walked together towards the fullness of divine life.