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Arabia |
For the first time, Christians in Qatar worship in church |
2009-02-09 |
DOHA, QATAR - When the Rev. Tomasito Veneracion arrived in this Muslim nation seven years ago, his Roman Catholic parishioners prayed in small groups scattered in apartments, schools, and one tiny makeshift chapel. At Easter, Indian Catholics gathered in one place, Filipinos in another, Arabs in yet another. But with last year's opening of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, his congregants for the first time had a recognized, central place to worship. On Christmas Eve, 15,000 attended a midnight mass, with those who couldn't cram into the 2,700-seat church watching on video screens outside. "When I first came here, the church was not recognized. But now we are enjoying this gift," Father Veneracion says. "It's a tremendous feeling of relief that we can breathe, worship, and pray in a place without fear and without disturbance." |
Posted by:Steve White |
#1 All that "good will & cooperation" will stop the first time a Muslim converts to Christianity. I hope the good Rev. Tomasito Veneracion has a hidey-hole picked out, preferably away from his church and its attendees. |
Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-02-09 13:45 |