June 20th will mark the seventh consecutive year that a Holy Mass in honor of Saint Josemaría is celebrated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Father Albert Pampillion, a priest of Opus Dei from East Africa, celebrated the first Mass in 2009. The next two years these Masses were celebrated by the parish priest of St. Francis Church, Father Eugene Mattioli.
In recent years, a good number of workers from different parts of the world have moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman), attracted by good job opportunities. A number of them were familiar with Opus Dei in their countries of origin. Through their professional and social contacts, a growing number in Dubai have learned about Saint Josemaría’s message of holiness in everyday work and family life.
In 2012, faithful of the Prelature of Opus Dei from Lebanon began making quarterly trips, together with Father Dominique Helou, who preached days of recollection for professionals living and working in Dubai. Now, monthly trips are made from Beirut for the spiritual and formation activities of Opus Dei.
There is growing devotion to Saint Josemaría Escriva in the UAE, as well as devotion to Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. A group from Dubai were in Valdebebas, Madrid last September to attend the beatification of Alvaro del Portillo. Recently, the members of Opus Dei and cooperators in Dubai held a successful fund-raising activity for Saxum Conference Center, a retreat house and multimedia center in the Holy Land, dedicated to Blessed Alvaro.
The Mass on June 20 will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the St Francis of Assisi Church (Jebel Ali, Dubai).