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Easter Sunday services in Dubai 'will not be affected' by Sri Lanka blasts

Dubai - The Catholic Church in Dubai is said to be the biggest parish in the world that serves over 350,000 churchgoers.

Easter mass services at St Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai will go on as scheduled and will not be affected by the series of bomb blasts across Sri Lanka on Sunday morning, a top priest told Khaleej Times.
"We carry on. Easter services were held this (Sunday) morning and Sunday masses will proceed as scheduled this afternoon," Rev. Fr.  Lennie J A Connully OFM Cap, parish priest at St Mary's Catholic Church, said.
Four mass services are set at 3pm, 4.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm (Arabic mass) at St Mary's.
The Catholic Church in Dubai is said to be the biggest parish in the world that serves over 350,000 churchgoers - with masses offered in 12 languages, catering to its multinational parishioners. The church, located in Oud Metha, stands on a land donated by Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai, who inaugurated the church on April 7, 1967.
Mass services (5.30pm, 7pm and 8pm) at St Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali will also not be affected.
Fr. Connully said: "We pray for the victims and we condemn the attacks in Sri Lanka but the whole world will not stop," he added.
He also expressed his confidence in the UAE government "for providing utmost security to its residents."
"The government and police have been doing a great job in protecting everyone. And because of this, we feel safe that we can continue going about our daily lives, despite many incidents in other parts of the world." he added.
Fr Reinhold Sahner, priest at St Francis of Assisi, Jebel Ali, added: "My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Sri Lanka, especially the victims and their families. We mentioned the attacks in our prayers today and in the homily I gave at 11.30am mass. God is in our side and we courageously face hate and terror."
"We are distressed by this appalling attack. We remembered the victims in our service today. The Easter story is set against a background of pain and violence and so we prayed amidst the grief and outrage that families in Sri Lanka will take comfort in the message of hope of Easter," Rev. Canon Andy Thompson, senior chaplain at St Andrew's Church Abu Dhabi said.
Melanie Antao Fernandes, a parishioner at St Francis, likewise expressed her trust in the government's security policy. She said: "In Dubai, people can worship freely and safely."
angel@khaleejtimes.com