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December 3, 2024Your Beatitude, Archbishop Raphael Thattil,
May the Lord give you peace and paschal Joy, the Joy of the risen Lord.
First of all, I would like to extend you a warm welcome to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates in the vibrant parish of Saint Mary in Dubai.
We joyfully welcome His Beatitude for this visit to the faithful belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church, who live in this parish. We pray for him that after his recent election as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, the Lord may grant in abundance the gift of wisdom for his delicate mission.
Together with His Beatitude, I also greet all of you, dear Syro-Malabar faithful, who are gathered today for the annual Syro-Malabar Day to meet the Major Archbishop and participate in the Holy Qurbana.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia constitutes a unique Church in the whole world, as His Holiness Pope Francis said in his homily in Abu Dhabi five years ago: “You are a choir composed of numerous nations, languages and rites; a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonize ever more, in order to make a symphony. This joyful polyphony of faith is a witness that you give everyone and that builds up the Church”. A Church composed of Migrants, coming from over hundred nations, a church of pilgrims, always moving and changing, always on the way.
Since its foundation, in 1889, the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia has been open to all the faithful, coming from many countries and from all the different Churches sui iuris. The Apostolic Vicariate has been taking care of the pastoral needs of the Syro-Malabar faithful by having Syro-Malabar priests in our parishes for more than 3 decades, through the Capuchin Provinces ascribed to the Syro-Malabar Church.
I express my great appreciation for the Syro Malabar faithful. I admire their strong faith and their assiduous presence at the Eucharistic celebration and the strong attitude to transmit the Christian faith to the new generations.
As we have faithful from different sui iuris Churches and from many nations and languages, collaboration with all the other faithful is the most important virtue for our vicariate. In this way a sincere exchange of spiritual gifts takes place among our faithful, as was recommended by the recent assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome on how to be an outgoing synodal church.
Here it is not only possible to deepen one's own spiritual tradition, but also to learn about other traditions and grow in mutual charity and mutual respect. In fact, we understand our originality better when we are in relation with others who are different.
Here in the United Arab Emirate the number of Syro Malabar priests are high, considering the total number of priests who serve us. We have Syro-Malabar priest practically in every parish in the vicariate.
We are also very happy to invite every year several Syro-Malabar bishops and priests for spiritual retreats and celebrations related to the Syro-Malabar tradition. We followed this important decision, knowing that the Syro-Malabar faithful do not simply constitute a linguistic community among others but are members of a sui iuris Church that has its historical roots in the testimony of St. Thomas the Apostle.
The situation of parishes here in the United Arab Emirates is very different. There are parishes with a large number of faithful but also there are smaller parishes. The Parish of Saint Mary in Dubai is most probably the biggest parish in the whole World: a truly fruitful crossroads of believers from different nations and rites where one learns a deep sense of the catholicity or universality of our Christian faith.
Having to respect the limitations that arise from our unique situation we are living in, it is not possible for any of our faithful to have everything as in their land of origin. The migrant, like the pilgrim, is someone who always experiences something lacking. Every community lack something here being migrant, but it is also important to realize that others also lack something as I do. But this lacking can become an opportunity for an openness towards others for greater sharing, in the hope that better conditions can be created for everyone.
We know that the Holy Father in the meeting, last May 13 verbally granted you jurisdiction in the Middle East, although the modalities have not yet been defined. We know that this is an important step for everyone, and we will follow the guidance of the Holy See.
We are certain that your presence, dear Major Archbishop, among us is a great gift and blessing not only for the Syro-Malabar faithful but also for the Vicariate, as we are all called to bear witness to Christ through love and unity among all the disciples as Jesus prayed, “that they may be one so that the world may believe”. May the Lord make us capable of being his credible witnesses in the world.
Once again, Your Beatitude, welcome among us and enjoy your stay in the UAE.
I also have great joy to welcome Father Francis and Father Matthew who are accompanying the Major Archbishop. On behalf of the entire vicariate we welcome you in the Land of tolerance and coexistence.
Brothers and sisters, let us put our hands together and welcome the Major Archbishop and the accompanying fathers.
