Due to safety concerns as Iran’s attacks continue, churches in Dubai suspended Easter in-person masses to avoid large gatherings. Catholic Christians in the UAE and the Gulf have embraced Easter’s message with hope and defiance amid the constant threat.
In a sombre sign of the impact of the Iran war, Christians in the United Arab Emirates were advised not to gather for the traditional Easter masses at the two main Catholic churches in Dubai due to the threat of ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks.
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Security alerts were issued across the Gulf on Easter Sunday, with authorities racing to intercept projectiles heading towards various locations in the region.
Nevertheless, Easter celebrations took place with added poignancy as local and foreign Christians came together to embrace Easter’s spiritual message of hope.
Easter church services were suspended at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Dubai through announcements made on their respective websites on Friday, guiding parishioners to follow Easter masses online. The announcements are in line with government safety directives regarding large gatherings.
“All Masses at our Church are cancelled until further notice” and “parishioners are requested to refrain from visiting the Church premises, in the interest of safety and community well-being,” said the St. Francis of Assisi Church announcement. The coastal area near the church in Jebel Ali has been hit several times in Iranian attacks.
Jebel Ali is a symbol of tolerance in Dubai, hosting multiple churches and temples from different religious denominations. The authorities’ safety directives apply to other religious gatherings as well, with the Anglican Holy Trinity Church, the Saint Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, the Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Parish as well as the Sikh and Hindu temples being temporarily closed too. Services have instead been moved online.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai’s Oud Metha, which is one of the largest Catholic parishes in the world, posted a similar message.
“Please note with effect from 3 April, our church will be closed to all visitors until further notice,” read the statement.
Easter is traditionally a significant spiritual moment and a great occasion for Christians in Dubai to gather, with both locals and expatriate communities normally turning out in large numbers at the Catholic churches, with major preparations made long before.
But as Iranian missile and drone attacks continue and Dubai is kept awake amid alerts and raids, Easter arrives with added poignancy and symbolism, but also defiance. Christians in the UAE and across the Gulf are now embracing Easter also in a renewed sign of hope and getting together in this challenging time.
Solidarity urged amongst Christians in the Gulf
The apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, bishop Paolo Martinelli, who oversees the Catholic Church in the UAE, appealed for solidarity among Christians in the Gulf during this Easter, acknowledging the disappointment that Church masses would need to be followed online, rather than in person, but also asking all parishioners to respect the authorities’ instructions.
“I would like to express my closeness to you during these holy days, as we celebrate the foundation of our faith, Christ Jesus, dead and risen,” Bishop Martinelli said in his Easter message, encouraging Christians to “pray incessantly for an end to the war and for peace and reconciliation.”
“We sincerely hope to return to celebrating together with all of you in our churches soon. It is certainly painful not to be able to take part in person in the beautiful and rich celebrations of the holy week,” the bishop added.
Dubai has absorbed most of the Iranian missile and drone attacks since the war began, and has even been targeted more than Israel. Euronews’ journalists in Dubai continue to report Iranian air raids, which have not relented during the Holy Week.