Commuters advised to use Metro or buses to avoid the Christmas rush

Dubai: More than 20,000 devotees are expected to converge on Dubai’s St Mary’s Catholic Church on Oud Metha Road for the traditional Christmas Eve midnight service on December 24 and the priest has urged people to use public transport to prevent parking chaos.

He also asked them to arrive early to avoid the last-minute rush. “Parking is a nightmare during any major festival in the church. We have very limited parking spaces around the church and I would encourage people to use the Metro or RTA buses to help reduce traffic jams in the area,” said Father Tomasito B. Veneracion, Parish Priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church.

Besides the main church, seating arrangements have been made at the football ground, and the main and mini halls to accommodate worshippers. Ushers will be in place to control and guide crowds inside the church. With half a million parishioners, the church hosts the largest congregation in the Gulf.

“A doctor and a team of nurses will be at hand for medical emergencies. We have taken all steps to make the service as smooth as possible,” Fr Veneracion added.

Masses on December 24 will begin from 3.30pm culminating in carol singing at 11.30pm and the traditional Christmas Eve mass at midnight. On Christmas Day there will be masses from 5.30am to 11.30am and 3 to 9.30pm.

Meanwhile, the Filipino community has already ushered in the Christmas season in church with a traditional nine-day prayer service called Simbang Gabi which ends with a special service on Christmas Eve. A giant Christmas tree was also lit on December 15 in the chuch premises, where people can make pledges, with all proceeds going to charity. The Christmas festivities come to a close with the annual family feast on January 9-10, when a lot of entertainment, games, including a raffle with a car will be held.

Fr. Veneracion urged people to retrospect and look at life anew: “People should learn how to change their attitude towards life so they can get inner strength and the spirit to go through any difficult situation,” he said.

Other churches in Dubai are also having special services for Christmas. The Holy Trinity Church in Oud Metha, which is under the stewardship of Anglicans, is also putting its best foot forward. “Come to church to celebrate the joy and wonder of this most amazing act of love,” is Rev. Tim Heaney’s (Associate Chaplain of Holy Trinity Church) Christmas message.

The church which caters to over 120 Christian denominations, has arranged an event called Carols in the Desert on December 20 at 3pm. On December 24, the traditional Christmas service will begin at 11pm, with a family communion mass at 10am on December 25.

St Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali Village will hold Christmas Eve services from 3.30pm, with carol singing at 5.30pm and traditional Christmas mass at 11pm. On Christmas Day, there will be services from 6.15am-8pm. The Mar Thoma Church in Jebel Ali will hold carol singing on December 19 at 8pm and a Malayalam mass at 8pm, December 24, with English service at 6.30am on December 25.

The Anglican Christ Church in Jebel Ali will hold a midnight service at 11pm. Christmas day services in Jebel Ali and Academic City will begin at 9.30am.

Sombre christmas

Not all Christians in the UAE will be celebrating this year. Many Filipino brethren plan to have a sombre Christmas in the light of the devastating typhoon that struck the Philippines recently. Some expats lost their loved ones and property to Typhoon Haiyan. “We lost our home and personal belongings. It was a traumatic experience for me. I am not in any mood to celebrate,” said Jo L., from Dubai. St Mary’s parishioners have also been generous, donating cash, clothes and other items for the typhoon victims.