My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

I have a good news for you! We have received the permission from CDA to reopen our church for the Holy Mass with some conditions and guidelines. We are allowed to have only 2 Masses.
1. 6:30 AM
2. 7:00 PM

At other times the church will remain closed. Only 30% of the church’s capacity, which will be around 250, will be allowed to attend the mass.

Attendance for the Mass will be regulated with pre-registration through our website.

We will not have the distribution of the Holy Communion during the Mass.

Both the Masses every day will be live streamed as it is being done presently.

We hope more concessions from the authorities will follow when we conduct ourselves well and prove our efficiency in crowd management.

The guidelines for the opening of the church are available in our church website and request all of you to go through it and adhere to it so that we can ensure social distance and safety management.

I would like to thank you all for your fervent prayers and patience you have shown in this difficult time and request you all, my dear Parishioners, to cooperate with the church for the smooth execution of the guidelines laid down for the opening of the church.

Greetings and prayers,
Fr. Lennie J.A. Connully, OFM Cap.

As instructed by the the Community Development Authority of Dubai, all parishioners intending to attend the obligatory and daily Holy Mass services in our church are expected to strictly comply with the below guidelines:

- There will be a limited number of attendees per mass. Registration of those interested in attending  will  take  place  on  first  come-first  served  basis   ONLY  online  via  the  church website. It is additionally mandatory for those who successfully register to download the Al

Hosn application on their smart phones. Only registered parishioners who have received the confirmation from our church will be permitted to enter the church premises and attend  only their allocated mass service. Registration cannot be exchanged with another person.

- Should you or your family demonstrate any Covid symptoms prior to the mass services, please refrain from coming to church. The same applies to those with chronic diseases and those prone to infections. In this case, kindly cancel your online registration immediately so
that your spot may be allotted to another parishioner. Senior citizens above 60 years and children below 12 years are discouraged from applying.

- All people (other than parishioners registered for the specific mass) will be prohibited from entering the parking area or sitting / standing there during the masses. Please avoid bringing additional people with you to attend the mass service, as they will not be permitted to enter
the church premises or stand in the parking area of the church.

- Entry gate: Gate 2.                      Exit gate: Gate 1 and Gate 3

- All attendees will be subject to thermal scanning prior to entering the church. Please arrive half an hour in advance of your allocated mass so as to complete the procedure. Church gates will be closed once the mass begins and entry to latecomers will be denied. Those with
abnormal temperature readings will not be permitted to enter the church.

- All attendees must wear face masks and gloves  AT ALL TIMES while in the church premises.

- Upon entering the church premises, proceed directly to the main church. All sitting spots are set at a distance of 2 meters from each other and are clearly marked on the church pews. Not more than one person will be permitted to occupy each spot.
 

- Till further notice, communion will not be distributed during any of the mass services.

- Visiting or Veneration at the grotto or other areas in the church / church compound before, during or after mass is not permitted. After the mass, please leave the church premises immediately through Gate 1 Gate 3 in an orderly fashion while maintaining adequate social
distancing.

- Please avoid any form of physical contact with the clergy, parish staffs and other attendees before, after and during the mass service.

- Canteen and toilet facilities will remain closed throughout the services. Eating and drinking within the church premises is strictly prohibited.

- Adherence to the above and instructions given by the volunteers during the mass service must be complied with.

Your understanding and cooperation for the above will be deeply appreciated!

For those who are unable to register, please note that all the Holy Mass services will be live streamed.

Fr. Lennie J.A. Connully, OFM Cap.
Parish Priest

1. Who  is allowed to attend the  Holy Mass?

• Children  under 12 and elderly over 60 years are urged not to attend the place of worship at the present time.

2. How do I and my family register for the Holy Mass and can I select which service I want?

• St.  Mary's  has developed   an  online   registration  application,  which  is available on the website, www.saintmarysdubai.org. Click on Mass Registration

• Once you open the link for registration, you can register to attend a mass for yourself,  and up to 4 family  members. Each  person's details, such  as Mobile No., Emirate ID No. needs to be entered.

• You can select the date / time for the available masses.             .

• You will  receive a confirmation for the registration via sms and email.

3. Can I cancel my registration in case I change my mind or would like to attend another mass?

• You can cancel  the mass registration  by clicking on the Cancellation tab available at St Mary's  Dubai  I  Entry {saintmarysdubai.org)

• You  can  register  for another  mass only  once  you  have  canceled  the previous access pass.

4. Can  I    be denied entry into the church in spite of successful  registration?
In  spite  of  successful  registration,  you  may  still  be denied  entry  into  the church due to:

• Abnormal  body  temperature  reading  during  thermal  scanning  at  the entrance of the church compound

• Not wearing facemasks and gloves

• Not presenting the valid access pass on your phone for the specific mass.

5. How will I be provided access to enter the church?

• Enter from Gate 2 (Gate nearest to the Priest Offices).

• Your temperature will be checked by the security staff/ volunteers.

• Show the security staff/volunteers your valid access pass for the mass you are attending.

• Follow the instructions of the volunteers to enter the church.

• Seating will start from the front of the church  and  all the available slots are to be occupied with no exceptions.

6. Do I need to provide my personal  identification to enter the church?

• It is recommended to keep your valid Emirates ID with you and present the same if requested by the church security staffI volunteers.

7.  How do I exit the church?

• The volunteers will guide you on the exit  procedure. Exiting the church compound will  be from Gate 3 and Gate 1.

• Parishioners are requested to exit the church compound immediately after the mass.

• Please follow the volunteer's instructions at all times.

8. Can I visit  the Grotto, Parish  Office  or the  Priests/Sisters  when I attend Holy Mass?
As per the Government's Regulations;
 

• You are not allowed to interact with the church staff or members of the clergy when attending Holy Mass.

• Veneration of the Grotto and other places within the church premises is strictly prohibited.

• Visiting the parish office is strictly by prior appointment.

9. Will I receive Holy Communion?

• Holy Communion will not be distributed during the Holy Mass.