Picture the scene. You stand before St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Sharjah. Its history whispers from every stone.
This isn’t just any church. It’s a testament to faith in a land where faith often takes a backseat. St Michael’s Church Sharjah has been a beacon for the Catholic community since 1971. Initially a small chapel near a British Air Force base it grew.
Father Barnabas a Capuchin priest founded this humble beginning. Imagine the small chapel packed with worshippers. In 1973 it moved to the British officers’ mess. The kitchen became a parish house.
The church blossomed under successive priests Fathers Attilio Edmund Antonino Felicio Godwin and Angelo. The congregation swelled. A larger church was needed.
In 1997 under Father Angelo and Bishop Bernard Gremoli a magnificent new church rose. Cardinal Arinze from the Vatican himself consecrated it. Father Angelo became its first parish priest.
But the story continues. Father Angelo’s departure after 18 years marked a new chapter. Father Ani Xavier took the helm. The church now boasts Masses in eight languages reflecting the diversity of its congregation. Thirty-five prayer groups meet weekly.
The original chapel may be gone but its legacy lives on. The spirit of St Michael’s Church remains strong a vibrant hub for faith and community in Sharjah. A place where history devotion and community converge in the heart of the UAE.