HISTORY OF OLPH PARISH – FUJAIRAH, UAE.
Former Apostolic Vicar of Arabia Late H. E. Bishop Bernard Gremoli with Fr. Barnabas Maddii visited the area, especially Khorfokkan for the first time in the mid of 1970’s to scout for possible places of worship. In late 1970’s, Fr. Attilio Franceschetti, Parish Priest of St. Michael's Church, Sharjah, began to look after Khorfakkan with religious services once in a month in private houses for the people of the area, comprising Fujairah, Kalba and Dibba. The Priest’s evening journey from Sharjah to the East Coast was not an easy one, as there were no street lights, isolated way with no proper roads, the disturbance of animals crossing the road and so on.
Later Masses were held in Fujairah every other Tuesday in a house officiated by Fr. Eusebius Deveri, Fr. Felicio Diniz, Fr. Angelo Fiumicelli, Fr. Edmund Fonseca and Fr. Godwin Gama from Sharjah parish. As time passed by and with the increase in the catholic community, requests for Holy Mass started flowing from other parts of East Coast too. Hence gradually the priest had to visit places like Kalba and Dibba also. Meantime Bishop also realized that to cater the spiritual needs of this growing community there was a dire necessity for a permanent place and Fujairah was selected as the central location.
When Fujairah became more important, with seaport, airport, free zone and other facilities, it became necessary to look after the Catholics here in a better way. On 5th February 1992 H.E. Bishop Bernard Gremoli appointed Fr. Michael Cardoz, an incardinated priest, as Fujairah's first resident parish priest covering the whole East Coast area. He stayed in a rented villa and Masses were celebrated in the same villa in Fujairah. The first Mass and baptism were celebrated on Friday 7th February1992. In the same year the first batch of children received the Sacrament of Holy Communion also. Later in its compound Bishop Bernard built a large hall to serve as the church and for other parish activities. Fr. Michael did a great deal of work in improving the necessary facilities to make the place more homely.
Fujairah grew with various commercial activites. As a result the Catholic population also increased in large number. They needed to have a proper place to worship. The Bishop together with Fr. Michael met the Ruler of Fujairah several times to get a plot of land. Finally, the land was granted, and a beautiful Church was built which was dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Adjoining the church a priest house and a parish hall was also built. The Church was consecrated on 25th October 2002 by Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain, and Apostolic Delegate for the Arabian Peninsula in the presence of Bishop Bernard Gremoli and other priests from the vicariate.
Founder parish priest Fr. Michael Cardoz was transferred to Dubai in December 2008. The present bishop, H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder appointed Salesian congregation from Chennai province, India to administer the parish as well as the school in 2008. Fr. Stanley Ignatius SDB was appointed as the parish priest in December 2008 and he continued till May 2009. In June 6, 2009, Bishop Paul Hinder appointed Fr. Patrick Joji SDB as the next parish priest and he continued till December 2014. Present parish priest Fr. Sagayaraj Philominathan, SDB was installed by Bishop Paul Hinder on 19th December 2014. Meantime Fr. Biju George OFM Cap and Fr. Varghese Puthangady SDB served as Asst. parish Priests. The present Asst. parish priest Fr. Joy Vathalloor SDB joined the parish in July 2015.
Today the parish of Fujairah consists of Fujairah, Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba. Dibba also have a small worship centre in a rented villa. Every Friday masses are being celebrated by the priest from Fujairah. Language Masses in Malayalam and Tagalog are also celebrated once in a month in Dibba. In June 2016, Bishop Paul Hinder had given permission to the Fujairah parish to celebrate the Mass and other sacraments for the Hatta community in Dubai. Once in a month priest is celebrating Mass.
God has blessed the parishioners of Fujairah, for they have many to help in practicing their faith. Obligatory masses are celebrated on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and week day masses are celebrated from Monday to Thursday morning and evening. The liturgical ministry comprises Altar servers, Catechists, Choirs, Eucharistic ministers, Lectors, Media and Ushers directly or indirectly supporting the parish priest for the day to day activities in the church. Prayer groups like Catholics For Family & Life (CFFL), Couples for Christ, El Shaddai, Family Ministry, Holy Spirit Interactive, Jesus Youth in Malayalam and English, Legion of Mary Seniors & Juniors, Malayalam Charismatic Group, Nurses Ministry, Youth Forum and Teachers Forum are all functioning in the parish. Language masses in Arabic, Konkani, Malayalam (Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites), Singalese, Tagalog and Tamil are celebrated on periodic basis in the Church. English as well as language retreats are also conducted on yearly basis for the growth of the Christian faith formation.
The Bishop has also built a fine school here, St. Mary's Catholic High School, entrusted to the Comboni Sisters, who arrived on 17th October 2001. The school was started in September 2002, and has students of different nationalities. It follows CBSE and the GCSE syllabi. At present the school is administered by the Selesians of Don Bosco from Chennai province, India.
Fujairah, with its strategic location, will continue to grow. Its population will keep on increasing and Catholics will always be able to use the facilities of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Mary's Catholic High School.