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By Ramesh
Mathew
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry HE
Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah yesterday highlighted the
importance of co-existence of people belonging to different
faiths in every society.
Such an atmosphere would contribute to
peace, harmony, development and help improve not only
person-to-person relations but also those between different
faiths, HE al-Attiyah said at a gathering held on the eve of
the consecration of the country’s first church, The Catholic
Church of the Lady of Rosary at Mesaimeer, yesterday.
The first Holy Mass at the newly-built church will be held
at 10 am today.
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“The Message of the Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa
al-Thani to people of the country is clear. It is a message
of the merciful and it is a message to people to accept the
good features of every religion for one’s own betterment and
also for the improvement of relations between communities
and people of different cultures,” he said.
The deputy prime minister said Qatar could take pride in
initiating steps for the first major inter-religious talks
to be held between two of the world’s important faiths.
“It has already completed five years since such initiatives
were begun by the State of Qatar and the government would
continue such bold initiatives in future too,” said
al-Attiyah.
The deputy prime minister said such novel steps taken by HH
the Emir had contributed remarkably to Qatar earning good
reputation among the international communities.
Al-Attiyah lauded the initiatives of HH the Emir’s wife, HH
Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad, in improving Qatar’s image
at the global level through important initiatives such as
inter-religious dialogues.
The minister recalled that the Middle East had a remarkable
tradition on being the birthplace of a number of faiths and
civilisations and each of such faiths had contributed in a
great way to the development of not only the region but also
the whole world.
Earlier, addressing a large group of diplomats who served in
Qatar and a number of Catholic and other Christian faithful,
Apostolic of the Vicarite of Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder
lauded the contributions of the Qatar government in
facilitating permanent places of worship for Christian
communities in the country.
“With the opening of this state-of-the-art church, a new
chapter has begun for an estimated 100,000 plus-Catholic
congregation of different nationalities living in this
lovely country,” he said.
Bishop Hinder said the more than 2mn Catholics living in the
GCC region would be sharing their joy over the opening of a
permanent place of worship for their brethren living in
Qatar.
Profusely thanking HH the Emir and his wife HH Sheikha Mozah
Nasser al-Misnad for helping the country’s Christian
expatriates realising their long-awaited dream, the bishop
said it was a matter of joy to the community members that
they could complete such a large church in less than 20
months since its work began.
He said the church and its other facilities, spread out in a
space of over 5,000 square metres, could accommodate more
than 2,000 people at a time for its services.
“The church will bring light to not only the minds and
hearts of the people, it would also be a symbol of love and
peaceful co-existence for people of different faiths
residing in Qatar,” he said.
“Any spiritually strong person could be an asset to any
society of which he is an integral part,” said the bishop.
Earlier, Boulas Shehad, member of the parish council,
introduced the bishops and others assembled for the
occasion.
Former Vatican nuncio to the GCC states Archbishop Giuseppe
Andrea, former Vicar Apostolic of the Vicarite of Arabia
Bishop Bernard Grimuli, Nuncio of Vatican to Gulf States
Archbishop Munged al-Hachem, Bishop of Kuwait Camilo Ballin,
Vice provincial of Capuchin (India) Fr Varghese Chemboli,
representatives of Greek and Syrian Orthodox churches,
Anglican, Syro-Malabar Catholic and Syro-Malankara Catholic
churches were present at the ceremony.
A large group of international media has come to Qatar to
attend the consecration ceremony of the Roman Catholic
church. The group included journalists, commentators and
broadcasters from the US, the UK, parts of Europe and
several countries of the Middle East.
Earlier, HE al-Attiyah and Archbishop al-Hachem jointly cut
the ribbon to announce the church’s introduction ceremony.
At least 15 ambassadors attended the function.
Prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of the
People’s (Vatican) Cardinal Ivan Dias will dedicate the
church today, with a Holy Mass, to be said by at least six
bishops and more than 25 priests, said Fr Tomasito
Venaracion, vicar of the church.
A large group of international media has come to Qatar to
attend the consecration ceremony of the Roman Catholic
church. The group included journalists, commentators and
broadcasters from the US, the UK, parts of Europe and
several countries of the Middle East.
Earlier, HE al-Attiyah and Archbishop al-Hachem jointly cut
the ribbon to announce the church’s introduction ceremony.
At least 15 ambassadors attended the function.
Prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of the
People’s (Vatican) Cardinal Ivan Dias will dedicate the
church today, with a Holy Mass, to be said by at least six
bishops and more than 25 priests, said Fr Tomasito
Venaracion, vicar of the church. |
