Tens of thousands of people take part in celebrations in preparation for Christmas, said Mgr Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. In Dubai alone, more than 20,000 people attended the Christmas novena in the Church of the Virgin Mary. The Catholic communities of the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen prepare to dedicate Christmas to the people affected by violence and war.

Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - The Churches of Abu Dhabi and the entire region of southern Arabia are preparing for Christmas with great celebrations that are drawing tens of thousands of people. This year, services are centred on peace and reconciliation among all those involved in violence and conflict.

Speaking AsiaNews, Mgr Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, stressed the great pre-Christmas ferment among the small Catholic communities in the UAE, Oman and Yemen.

"In the period of Advent, thousands of people attended the Christmas novena organised by the Filipino community, the largest in the region of southern Arabia," he said.

"On 20 December more than 20,000 people were present at the small Church of the Virgin Mary in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, there were about 6,000 people."

This year's Christmas will be especially poignant given the region's conflicts and the natural disasters that have devastated the Philippines, the prelate said.

What is more, "It is amazing how many Catholics living in Muslim countries come to Mass, with many of them driving hundreds of miles to reach the churches."

"Given the expected number of worshippers, Midnight Mass will be held in English at three different intervals at 6.30 pm, 9 pm and midnight," Mgr Hinder said. On Christmas Day, services will also be held in other languages ​​in the parishes of the UAE and Oman.

About a million Catholic, all foreign nationals, live and work in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Filipinos are the largest community, followed by Indians, mostly from Kerala. The rest of the Catholic community includes Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, Egyptians and Jordanians who came to the region for work.

Thanks to the freedom of worship granted by Persian Gulf monarchies, the life of the Church is very active in the region, organised around seven parishes in the United Arab Emirates, four in Oman with about 18,000 members, and a smaller community in Yemen.

Some 55 priests operate in the area, working in local churches and Catholic schools for migrants.

• united
• arab
• emirates
• christmas
• migrants