Archbishop of Goa and Daman makes maiden visit to the UAE
By William Faria
DUBAI: The Archbishop of Goa and Daman, His Grace Filipe Neri Ferrao has
landed in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)making his maiden visit
to this Gulf region.
The week-long visit started off with His Grace witnessing the All Goa
Inter-village football tournament that took place at the Irani Stadium in
Dubai.
According to an official programme released by St. Mary's Goan Sodality,
Dubai His Grace also led a Solemn High Mass in Konkani at St. Mary's Church
on Saturday.
The Gulf region especially the UAE has a large population of Roman Catholics
that include the Goan and Manglorean communities.
His Grace is also expected to visit the other emirates of the UAE that
includes churches in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi and
Sharjah.
On October 17 there will be another Holy mass in Konkani at the Dubai church
at 2 pm, followed by a series of Cultural programme and felicitation at St.
Mary's school compound adjacent to the church.
Hundreds of Catholic faithful, including the Phillipino, Lebanese, Syrian
and other Arab region communities welcomed HIs Grace at a colourful ceremony
at St. Mary's Church in Dubai.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao who hails from Aldona was born on 20th
January, 1953. He was ordained as Bishop on 10th April, 1994.
Filipe Neri Ferrao, who has been appointed as the Archbishop in January,
2004 by his Holiness Pope John Paul II, is the 34th Archbishop of Goa and
Daman and the seventh Patriarch of the East Indies, since the inception of
the Church in Goa in the 16 century.
Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana,
installed Ferrao the Archbishop-designate in his Episcopal seat, in a solemn
religious ceremony at the "Sé Cathedral" at Old Goa, on March 21 the same
year.
The colourful ceremony was attended by tens of thousands of Catholic
faithful, religious leaders and others dignitaries.
Outgoing Archbishop Raul Gonsalves, then aged 75 handed over the crozier
(episcopal staff) to Ferrao, having served for 25 years. (ends)
