by Reena Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Mar 15: A Long awaited dream came true to all the catholic souls in Doha – Qatar when the new church building of our Lady of Rosary was inaugurated on 14th March 2008, by His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamed Al-Attiya, Deputy Prime Minster and minister of Energy & Industry of Qatar. It was a soft opening held on Friday evening which was attended by Bishop Paul Hinder from the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia, Apostolic Nuncio of Qatar - Mounget Al-Hachem, Bishop Bernad Gremolic, Archbishop Guiseppe Den Andrea, Bishop Camillo Ballin, visiting priests, Ambassadors, Foreign dignitaries and Members of the Parish Council.
The guests gathered in the multi-purpose auditorium for the ceremony, Father Tomasito Veneracion the parish priest welcomed the gathering and thereafter the ribbon was cut by the Minister to inaugurate the church.
Bishop Paul Hinder gave his message to the gathering and offered his thanks to The Emir of Doha, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al Misnad, the entire government and people of Qatar for their kindness and generosity. He said “the amazing pity and devotion to God of the people of Qatar is well known and we count it a privilege to be allowed to worship here, in a land where we are all reminded to pray constantly, as Christians we are called to pray and serve in a spirit of utmost generosity and love both for God and for our fellow human beings, so that following in our father Abraham’s footsteps, we may be a blessing on humanity, as are all Abraham’s children by the Grace of God”
Speaking to the press His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamed Al-Attiya, said that the Church would send a positive response to the world.
Members of the Mangalorean Parish Council Sub Core Committee in Doha has Neelam Lobo as the Co-ordinator, Wilfred Lewis, Wilfred Crasto, Walter D’silva, James Noronha, Thimothy Veigas, Jacintha Pais, Denzil Britto and Reena Castelino as its members, all of them were all present for this inauguration ceremony.
The Consecration of the new church will be held on Saturday the 15th March 2008. At least 30 priests of various catholic denominations would join the main celebrant Cardinal Ivas Dias, who is especially arriving from Rome for the holy mass scheduled at 10 a.m. Though the mass would be in English, prayers in other languages would also be incorporated into it. The Church of our Lady of Rosary said to be the biggest of a series of churches coming up in the area, is designed by an Italian architect and painted by Signor Valentino Vago and could hold more than 2,000 faithful at one time.