St Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai to reopen on Monday

St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha, Dubai, will reopen on Monday (February 1), operating at 30 per cent capacity.

Parish priest Fr Lennie J.A. Connully OFM Cap announced on the church website: “Glad to announce that we have received permission from CDA (Community Development Authority) to reopen our church for the Holy Mass with a few conditions and guidelines.”

Parishioners welcomed the news of the reopening of the church, which was temporarily closed last March as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.

St Mary’s Church will have two masses daily at 6.30am and 7pm from February 1 onwards, but the church will remain closed at other times.

Fr Connully noted that only 30 per cent of the church’s capacity, which will be around 250 people, will be allowed to attend the mass. There will not be distribution of the Holy Communion during the mass and pre-registration through the church website is a must to attend the mass. He added: “Those registered for mass should report 30 minutes before for the thermal scanning to enter the church. Senior citizens above 60 years and children below 12 years are discouraged from atending. Both the masses every day will be live-streamed as it is being done presently.”

Fr Connully also said that churchgoers must install the Al Hosn app on their mobile phones. “The guidelines have been given to us by government authorities. So please follow the instructions strictly,” he clarified.

Volunteers will also be on site assisting people and reminding them of the strict health and safety rules.