Dubai: Churches in Dubai will be offering special prayers for the full recovery of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, following his surgery on Friday.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs on Saturday said Shaikh Khalifa’s health is stable after surgery following a stroke he suffered on Friday morning.
“On Saturday night, Bishop Paul Hinder sent us a note for all our churches to offer prayers for His Highness Shaikh Khalifa in all the more than 20 masses these past two days. Although we pray for the UAE leadership yearly, this one is a special offertory,” Rev Father Tom Veneracion, parish priest of St Mary’s Church, told Gulf News.
“Shaikh Khalifa has led this country well, taking after his father, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His leadership is testament to his being a unifying figure of the whole country,” he added.
At the Holy Trinity Church, similar proceedings will be held.
“The celebration of the Holy Communion this evening, which I will preside over, will be held with the intention of His Highness’ speedy recovery and complete restoration to health,” Rev Dr Ruwan Palapathwala, Senior Chaplain of the Chaplaincy of Dubai, Sharjah with the northern emirates, told Gulf News.
Rev Dr Palapathwala said services in all the Anglican churches in Sharjah, Jebel Ali, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah will be offering prayers for the country’s leader.
The whole community at the Holy Trinity Church compound in Oud Metha will be requested to do the same.
Parishioners are invited to attend a special prayer vigil to be held on Thursday at the Holy Trinity Church.
