On the occasion of commemorating the 1500th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Aretas in Saudi Arabia in AD 523, the feast day was duly celebrated in all the parishes of the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia on October 24.
Fr. Jinu Jacob, Vatican City
On the occasion of commemorating the 1500th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Aretas in Najran, Saudi Arabia in 523 AD, the feast day was duly celebrated in all the parishes of the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia on October 24.
In this important jubilee year commemorating the 1500th anniversary, the Holy Doors of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Bahrain will be opened on November 4 and the Abu Dhabi Cathedral on November 9.
But since religious symbols and signs are prohibited in other places except Bahrain, Monsignor Aldo Berardi announced that a special bus service will be started to bring the faithful to the cathedral, which is located outside the city.
The monsignor explained that in Kuwait, in northern Arabia, freedom is limited, and complex conditions are imposed on the church due to the unstable political situation. Although land for a mosque had been requested in the area for years, agreements with the government fell through due to external pressure, the monsignor explained.
Even schools run by missionaries in Kuwait cannot be called Catholic schools. There are schools attended by people of all religious denominations. Carmelite nuns, Salesian priests and Lebanese nuns are in charge of the three schools.
Thus the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia is in spiritual preparation for the Jubilee of the Martyrdom of Saint Aretas and his companions, even though religious freedom is very little.
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2023-10-25 11:56:54
