Sharjah: In a tragic incident, Fr Youssef of St Micheal’s Church, Sharjah died on Sunday, May 17 owing to COVID-19, at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman.
It is said to be the first death of a Catholic priest in UAE due to COVID-19.
Having served all together about 20 years in the Gulf in various places like Dubai, Doha, Qatar, Muscat and finally in Sharjah, the priest had completed 25 years of his priestly ordination in 2013.
Lebanese national, Fr Youssef was born in 1957. He lived in the war-torn country of Lebanon from 1975 to 1990. Devastated by the internal conflict, his small village in Lebanon too was reduced to mangled remains. He lost his father and his brother in the battle.
It was at this time that he joined the Capuchin Order and did his Theological studies in Italy.
The death of the priest was announced by Bishop Paul Hinder during the 7 pm mass at the St Joseph’s cathedral, Abu Dhabi.
Prayers were conducted in the church for the departed soul.
