Catholic Church Consecrated in Doha - Qatar
News & Pics by Reena Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Mar 15: Thousands of people young and old inspite of the dusty weather and the traffic jams were all walking, driving towards the new church in Qatar on Saturday Morning to attend the consecration Ceremony. The Entrance procession began at 10.15 a.m. from the parish hall to the entrance at the church where Cardinal Ivan Dias handed over the key of the church to Vicar Apostolic. The Cardinal invited the people to enter the church by saying “Go within his gates giving thanks; enter his courts with songs of praise”
The procession with the Cardinal Ivan Dias, Bishop Paul Hinder from the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia, Apostolic Nuncio of Qatar - Mounget Al-Hachem, Bishop Bernad Gremolic, Archbishop Guiseppe Den Andrea, Bishop Camillo Ballin, Parish Priest Fr.Tomasito Vanracion, Fr.Varghese Chempoly, Fr.Gerry Dunne, Fr.Leszek Wisiniewski, Fr.John Vandeerlin, Fr.Jerome, Fr.Lazar, Fr. John Mathew, resident priests of Qatar and guest priests proceeded towards the church with joy and happiness as a long awaited dream of catholics in Qatar came true.
The blessing of water took place and after which the parade of nations began. Roman Catholics representing 63 different nationalities living in Doha took part in the parade in their traditional costumes.
Little boys and girls dressed as little angels in white costumes spread themselves among the congregation. The choir sang the hymns that were definitely music to the ears and the joy on their faces was a feast for the eyes of the congregation during the ceremony.
The Cardinal in his homily conveyed the message of the Holy Father by saying “The Holy Father sends his very special greetings to the Emir of Qatar and the beautiful people of this country… I want to thank the Emir for the gracious gift of this land and his permission to build the church that we consecrate today," Cardinal Dias presented the chalice donated by the Holy Father to the church.
Different community representatives in their community languages recited the prayers of the faithful.
The solemn moment of the ceremony was when the relic of Saint Padre Pio Da Pietralcina was deposited and thereafter the anointing of the altar and walls. The incensing of the altar, church walls and the people followed this. The altar was then arranged for the mass through an ethnic dance hymn followed by the lighting of the candles with a liturgical dance.
The offertory procession by the resident priests of Qatar proceeded towards the altar with an African Dance. The ceremony lasted for around four hours and was attended by more than 10,000 people. To mark this occasion the souvenir “Beads of Glory” was released and distributed among the gathering. Beautiful memento with the new church picture was also distributed among the parishioners. The guest priests spoke to the congregation at the end of the ceremony and expressed their joy and gratitude on this occasion.
Indeed this day will go down into the history of the catholic church in Qatar as a day to be remembered where the spiritual needs of Catholics are met and they can devote themselves more happily to the well being of the country where they live and work.
Earlier Update with Pictures: