St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE

History

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was in the territory of St. Mary’s Church, Dubai where Rev. Fr. Daniel Cerofolini OFM Cap was the Parish Priest. He blessed and laid the foundation stone on 4th October 2000. The construction of the entire Church building was done within an admirable period of one year.

A list of all the priests who have served the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jebel Ali since 2000 when it came into existence.
Bishop Bernard Gremoli Fr. Daniel Cerofolini Fr. John Fernandaz Fr. Ani Xavier Fr. Wilson Pascal Fr. Conrad D'Souza Fr. Thomas Quadros Fr. Johnson K. Joseph Bishop Paul Hinder Fr. Warnakulasuriya Anthony Fernando Fr. Peter Kadamankod Fr. Eugene Mattioli Fr. Vincent Wijesurya Fr. Joji Plamparambil Fr. Mathew Kandathil Fr. Prasanna Rohan Lal Warnakulasuriya	2000 – 2005 2000 – 2001 2001 – 2006 2001 – 2002 2002 – 2002 2002 – 2003 2003 – 2004 2004 – 2011 2005 – date 2005 – 2007 2005 – 2011 2006 – date 2007 – 2013 2011 – date 2011 – date 2013 – date

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE was consecrated on 15th of November 2001. Jebel Ali is situated on a small mountain desert. The name Jebel Ali itself means ‘Small Mountain’.

The parish land area is 50,000 ft². It comprises of a single building of three parts. The church is adjoined by the Assisi Parish Hall, which can be opened if number of faithful increases for the church services. There is also a systematically constructed Padua Centre with fifteen halls, which can be used for Catechesis and Prayer meetings. The residential area and the office are another part of the construction. The plan and the architecture provide also a basement-parking space for 70 cars.

Indeed, this reveals a work of masterpiece by Bishop Bernard Gremoli. Everyone who visits the church has a wonder of being in a ‘House of Prayer’. The mosaic picture of Jesus embracing St. Francis from the Cross centers the sanctuary of the Church. It gives an extraordinary divine attraction for the Faithful.

This is the second Church within the Emirate of Dubai which began to serve the spiritual needs of faithful working/living in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Industrial Area, Jebel Ali Village, Jebel Ali Gardens and Jumeirah.

We had the opportunity of having Archbishop Giuseppe de Andrea, the Apostolic Delegate of Arabian Peninsula for the consecration of the Church. Bishop Bernard Gremoli, the Vicar Apostolic of Arabia, Most Rev. Br. John Corriveau, the Minister General of Capuchin Franciscan Order and Very Rev. Fr. Eugene Mattioli, the Superior Regular of the Arabian Capuchin Custody concelebrated the ceremony together with twenty priests from different parishes of Apostolic Vicariate; sisters from the Vicariate also participated. The colourful ceremony was magnified by almost three thousand Lay Faithful from various parishes of the Vicariate.