Archbishop's Visit to the Middle East
Panjim, Oct 7. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has left today on a 12-day
visit to the Goan Catholic communities in some of the countries in the
Middle East.
Acquiescing to invitations that he had been receiving regularly in recent
years, the Archbishop decided to take up this visit in a pastoral spirit, as
a pastor visiting his flock in diaspora. He will begin by visiting the
Goan communities in Muscat (Ruwi and Ghala parishes). Proceeding to the
U.A.E. on the 10th October, he will visit Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah,
Abu Dhabi (where he will also meet the Bishop of Arabia), Jebel Ali and
Sharjah.
His programme will mostly consist of celebrating Masses, blessing the sick
and addressing the catechists, the youth and the children. Additionally,
cultural programmes will be held in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, while a
Felicitation Programme and a Dinner with the Goan Community is being
organized by the Goan Sodality of Dubai, which is the main coordinator of
his Visit to the U.A.E.
Also included in the Archbishop's programme are the Goan Inter-Village
Football Finals and a meeting with the various Club heads in Dubai. The
Archbishop has announced that he will not receive any gifts, in cash or in
kind and will also not visit or have meals with individual families. He will
be back in Goa on the 19th instant.
