Post the Covid-19 pandemic, UAE is slowly unlocking and now after schools, Catholic and Anglican churches in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah are all set to open with new restrictions. From implementing safety measures to removing prayer books in the main worship area, the authorities are taking all the precautions, making the safety of the worshipers their main priority.
Churches To Open In Abu Dhabi And Ras Al Khaimah
St Joseph and St Andrew church are set to reopen in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, St Anthony and St Luke Church will also open in Ras Al Khaimah. Maintaining safety standards, 10 to 80 people will arrive for each mass and will be seated in the designated spaces. The entry capacity is capped at 30%. As for Abu Dhabi churches, worshippers must register online to reserve a spot. While enrolling online, worshippers must enter their Emirates ID as well as download the government’s Al Hosn tracing app. After filling out the details and receiving the confirmation, they can then attend the mass.
Places of worship were closed on March 16 across the country to decrease the spread of coronavirus. With time, mosques and other places of worship reopened in early July, but churches resumed later as they were waiting to get clarity about receiving the communion.
Safety Measures In Place For Worshippers
Authorities have made some rules to ensure the safety of the worshippers. First and foremost, children under the age of 12, and the elderly will not be allowed to enter the church. Secondly, two to five singers will be allowed to sing during the mass in a few gatherings, whereas, in the rest, recorded music will play. Lastly, the workers will be in protective overalls and face shields. Parishioners will also be asked to wear gloves, and the sanitisation of the church will take place between each service.
Dubai Churches To Remain Shut
While churches in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah are reopening with all the safety measures, the catholic churches in Dubai will remain shut since it’ll be hard to maintain thousands of people each day. Nevertheless, a few Anglican and Orthodox parishes in Dubai have resumed with limited numbers in the Oud Metha area.
Speaking about the opening of the St Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi, Rev Andy Thompson, senior Chaplin, said,
“We are happy and excited to be back together with our church family. We have missed worshipping as a community.”
He further added,
“The biggest change is the absence of children. They bring energy to the church that is noticeably missing. We look forward to a time when families can come back to the church with young children!”
Live Streaming To Continue On Friday And Sunday
To ensure that everyone attends the prayers, live streaming will continue on Friday and Sunday. With over 60 church communities meeting at St Andrews, including the Church of South India, the first service was held on August 21. In the first service, about 80 Protestant worshippers were given small cups for the communion.
Speaking the reopening, Rev Sojee Vergis John said:
“Traditionally we use a big chalice. Now each person is given an individual cup with the bread, and people come one by one for the communion. Before about 20 people would kneel at the altar.”
Throwing light on the situation, John E John, director of communication at the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, said all the safety guidelines were in place before reopening the churches. Highlighting the importance of safety, he said that since there are a large number of parishioners in Dubai, the church has decided to defer re-opening at the moment.