On Friday, 25 November, Abishai Vase was ordained a deacon at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Abu Dhabi by Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, in a solemn evening mass outdoors.
Abishai Vase is a seminarian at St. John's Seminary in Boston, USA, studying to be a priest of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. He is currently doing his pastoral year in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. He grew up in the UAE and did his schooling at St. Mary's Catholic High School. At the end of the ordination mass, he expressed special thanks to the Comboni sisters and the Capuchin fathers of St. Mary's Parish who played a role in his spiritual upbringing.
Abishai continued his studies in the United States and earned a degree in Mathematics and Islamic Studies from Harvard College, but his desire was to become a priest. The ordination to the priesthood will take place after completion of his studies at St. John’s Seminary.
At the ordination ceremony Bishop Paul Hinder was assisted by the permanent deacon Donald Fox (who also vested the newly ordained) and several priests of the Vicariate.
The newly ordained deacon also thanked the clergy, sisters, choirs, and many people who prepared and participated in the beautiful liturgy.