DUBAI Parishioners of St Mary’s Church are joining their Muslim brethren in Ramadan-related charity work by collecting groceries and personal items for construction workers in Dubai labour camps.
“We’ve started collecting the goods from generous parishioners and we’re hoping to deliver hundreds of ‘Bags of Hope’ at the end of four weeks,” said Roshan, leader of the St Mary’s Samaritan team doing the drive for the third year.
This year’s Ramadan commenced on July 20, during which Muslims all over the world observe a month-long fast for up to 14 hours from dusk till dawn and works of charity are encouraged.
Fr Tom Veneracion, parish priest of St Mary’s Church Dubai, said: “This (Bag of Hope) is our way of being one with our Muslim brethren in the spirit of prayer and charity. We encourage our parishioners through this campaign to give less for self and more for others.”
The prelate said that Christians have a debt of gratitude to UAE leaders for giving land on which churches are built but also for allowing Christians to freely express their faith.
Veneracion said while the Samaritan campaign is rather “modest”, he hopes the drive would gain more traction among parishioners. Catholics form the biggest number of Christians in the UAE.
Last year, the Samaritans group members distributed about 700 bags. “This year we’re hoping to give more,” said Roshan.
Each bag will contain rice (1kg), cereals (1kg), cooking oil (1L), juice (1L), biscuit packets, canned food, a box of tea bags, a tube of toothpaste (200ml), a toothbrush, two bars of soap and a Dh20 du phone recharge card. The goods will be delivered to a camp at the end of four weeks.
Donations are currently being collected at the church’s parish council office.
Sister Josephine, a Comboni sister at St Mary’s, said: “It’s always better to give than to receive. A gesture of love, no matter how small, to help our brothers in the labour camps gives us a chance to be one with those who have less in life.”
Other communities are also helping out to ease labour camp life in the UAE.
Members of Adopt-A-Camp, a volunteer-driven charity working jointly with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai World Trade Centre, are hoping to collect up to 5,000 sets of pillows, mattresses and bed sheets to help workers get relief from the nightly scourge of bed bugs and lice in their camps.
Quote:
“This is our way of being one with our Muslim brethren in the spirit of prayer and charity. We encourage our parishioners to give less for self and more for others”
Fr Tom Veneracion
