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May 18, 2020
Abu Dhabi.
Here is a letter from Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, honouring Fr. Youssef S. Youssef, Assistant parish priest of St. Michael’s Sharjah and priest responsible for the Arabic speaking Catholics who passed away on 17 May 2020 due to multiple complications arising from Covid-19:
With this letter I wish to give honor to Br. Youssef Sami Youssef OFM Cap who passed away on Sunday, 17th May 2020. Although we knew about his serious health status, it was still a shock when I got the news that Br. Youssef had passed away at 5.15pm. We thank God who has given us this dedicated friar and we thank the Custody of the Near East (Lebanon) that allowed him to work with us, mostly in the Arabian Gulf, since the nineties of the last century.
I met Br. Youssef for the first time in December 1996 when I visited Lebanon and Syria as General Councillor of the Capuchin Order. Br. Youssef was a brother who cared for the fraternal life wherever he was assigned. In his priestly ministry, he showed a missionary mindset and was open beyond his own communities. Within a few hours many condolences from the faithful who were neither Arabic nor French speaking were posted and these are proofs that his pastoral work reached out to others. He always tried to fight against group-egotisms and particularisms affecting communities. He was a man of prayer and knew that the true source of a fruitful pastoral ministry is found in a personal meeting with the Lord. As a Capuchin Brother he knew that simplicity is the best witness we can give and that money should never direct our minds or our actions.
I am deeply grateful for the gift of Br. Youssef and am sure that he continues to intercede for us as he had a special concern for the mission in the Gulf. Let us pray to the Lord that after the hard struggles of Br. Youssef during the last few weeks, he may now find peace and eternal rest in the Risen Christ.
I will celebrate a Requiem Mass for our departed Br. Youssef on Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 7:00 PM at St Joseph’s Cathedral, which will also be streamed live.
With my blessings and fraternal regards,
+ Paul Hinder OFM Cap
Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia