The largest Catholic parish in the world, but it is also the largest parish of expatriates in a Muslim country.
Arguably the world's biggest Catholic parish, Mary's Catholic Church, locates itself, surprisingly, in an Islamic state in the Arabian Peninsula.
This church, located in Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates, has over 350,000 parishioners today and is still growing.
The majority of the parishioners are expatriates.
About 700,000 Filipinos live in the UAE; some 450,000 of them are in Dubai, the country's most populous city.
Expatriates in the UAE represent 88 percent of its population. Of its estimated population of more than 9,900,000, only 12 percent are UAE nationals or Emiratis.
The UAE is home to over 200 nationalities, including Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, and Westerners.
The arrival of Filipinos and Indians in the UAE is responsible for the growth in parishioner numbers.
Founded in 1967, the church has become home to Catholics from different countries who came with their families to work and reside.
Prime Minister Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum gave land for the construction of a church. But the location was too distant from the parishioners.
In 1965, Fr. Eusebio Daveri acquired more land and started building a church.
A school was built next to the church. In 1976, they expanded and inaugurated the school.
In 1977, the Comboni Sisters arrived in Dubai. Their arrival paved the way for the school to recruit more students.
1989 saw the construction of a larger church.
The parish offers Masses in English; churchgoers occupy both the interior of the church and the outside square.
Masses are also celebrated in Arabic, Tagalog, French, Konkani, Ukrainian, Urdu, Malayalam, and other languages.
About 10,000 children study catechism in the parish. Most are taught in English.
During holidays, like Christmas, the mass attendance could reach 25,000 people.
The parish adoration chapel was built just next to the main church.
Outside the adoration chapel, they set up a grotto for lighting candles. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary also stands outside it.
Mary's Catholic Church offers baptism and wedding ceremonies.
This church, run by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, is one of only two Catholic churches in the United Arab Emirates.
The other one is the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali, a commercial port and business center in Dubai.
In 1988, they demolished the old Church of the Assumption. A growing number of worshippers led to the construction of Mary's Catholic Church in its place.
Previously, a priest from Bahrain served the Catholics in the UAE.
In 1977, an Arab priest tended to the Arabic and French communities.
Capuchins currently manage Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai.
Fr. Lennie J.A. Connully, OFM Cap, is the parish priest. He has been thankful to the leaders in the UAE for the opportunities and assistance in the Catholic practice of faith.
Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai, like other Catholic churches in Muslim countries, has no cross or other Christian symbols outside of its structure with respect to Islamic law and the local people.
It is arguably the largest Catholic parish in the world, but it is also the largest parish of expatriates in a Muslim country to begin with.
