All about Saint Anthony’s Church, Ras Al Khaimah
Although the UAE is predominantly a Muslim-majority country, it also hosts a significant number of expatriates and tourists from various nationalities and faiths. For those who practice Christianity, Saint Anthony’s Church in Ras Al Khaimah is one of the many places of worship.
St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church Ras Al Khaimah is a member of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. It falls in the Latin Rite jurisdiction covering the UAE, Yemen and Oman. Here is all you need to know about the church.
Brief History of the Saint Anthony’s Church RAK
The Saint Anthony’s Church RAK, also known as the Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, is a Roman Catholic Church with a congregation of more than 10,000 registered parishioners. The church is named after St. Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century Portuguese Catholic priest who was also proclaimed in 1946 as Doctor of the Church long after his death.
The church was consecrated on 14th June 2013 as a culmination of the dream of Father Eusebius Daveri OFM Capuchin, who visualised having a church in Ras Al Khaimah. Before this, church services used to be conducted in hotel rooms or properties lent by the parish members.
The land for the church was generously allotted by the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, in 2007, who wished for all the churches to be conveniently situated in one location. Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church was one of the first few churches in Ras Al Khaimah.
Saint Anthony’s Church RAK has a traditional architecture with arches and pillars. It has carved wooden doors and blue reflective glass windows. There is a large hall for the masses, with bright lighting and state-of-the-art technological facilities that help in delivering a smooth service.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH – AN OVERVIEW
Currently, three priests are entrusted with the services and day-to-day affairs of the church. They are:
- Fr. Joy Menachery OFM Cap – Parish Priest
- Fr. Ronelo Ramos Resco. MSP – Assistant Parish Priest
- Fr. Godfrey Rodriques, OFM Cap – Assistant Parish Priest
The church has a congregation of almost 10,000 parishioners, and each new member must register to be inducted into the congregation.
St. Anthony of Padua Church is also home to many ministries, such as:
- Catechism
- Extraordinary Lay Ministers
- Jesus Youth
- Nurses Ministry
- Couples for Christ
- Charismatic Groups
- Family Ministry RAK
- Altar Servers
- Legion of Mary
- El Shaddai
- The Lord’s Flock
SACRAMENTS AT ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH RAK
A sacrament in the church is a sacred ritual or ceremony that symbolises and imparts divine grace. In Christianity, sacraments are seen as outward signs of an inward spiritual reality, often instituted by Jesus Christ.
Different Christian denominations recognise varying numbers of sacraments. For example, the Catholic Church acknowledges seven sacraments, including Baptism Eucharist and Confirmation.
BAPTISM
The Baptism ceremony at St. Anthony Padua Church RAK takes place every Friday from 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm.
Baptism Requirements
For the Child:
- Birth certificate in English
- Valid passport and visa copy, including the last page
- Completed Baptism form
For Parents:
- Original NOC from your parish (if not from St. Anthony of Padua Church). If from St. Anthony’s Church parish, provide your reference code.
- Valid passport and visa copy, including the last page
- Church marriage certificate
For Godparents:
- Original NOC from their church (if not from St. Anthony’s Church parish)
- Confirmation certificate or church marriage certificate
- Original Baptism Seminar attendance certificates (for parents and godparents)
All required documents must be submitted as hard copies to the parish office at least one week before the scheduled Baptism. Submissions via WhatsApp, email or scanned copies will not be accepted. Delayed submission may lead to the cancellation of the Baptism ceremony and a delay in issuing the Baptism certificate. Also, you will be notified once the date and time of the Baptism is confirmed.
FIRST COMMUNION
First Communion is a significant religious milestone in Christianity, particularly in the Catholic Church. It is the first time a person, usually a child around the age of seven or eight, receives the Holy Eucharist (the consecrated bread and wine, symbolising the body and blood of Christ) during Mass.
CONFIRMATION
Children preparing for Confirmation at St. Anthony Padua Church RAK must undergo a formation process. This Sacrament is only administered to those enrolled in Catechism classes. Preparation begins in Grade 7, and students typically receive Confirmation during Pentecost at the end of Grade 8.
Baptised Catholic adults who have not yet received Confirmation should contact the parish office for details on when the Sacrament is administered. Adults preparing for Confirmation usually complete a one-week preparatory course before receiving the Sacrament.
MARRIAGE
Couples wishing to marry at St. Anthony of Padua Church must follow these guidelines:
These requirements apply to residence visa holders who have lived within the parish’s jurisdiction for at least three months. Visit visa holders should contact the Parish Office for further instructions.
- Newly Issued Baptism Certificate
- It must be an original document issued within six months of the wedding date.
- It should include the church’s email address.
- If the certificate does not state “No Entry of Marriage,” “For Marriage Purpose,” or similar wording, a letter from the church of baptism confirming no prior marriage record is required.
- Confirmation Certificate
- Not required if the Confirmation date is mentioned on the newly issued Baptism Certificate.
- An old or newly issued Confirmation Certificate (not a souvenir) or even a photocopy is acceptable.
- Marriage Preparation Course Certificate (Original)
- Civil Freedom to Marry
- If not civilly married: A recently issued (within six months) Certificate, Affidavit, or Statement of Singleness/No Marriage/No Impediment/Free State attested by the relevant government authority, embassy, or consulate. If unavailable, contact the Parish Office.
- If already civilly married: A photocopy of the Civil Marriage Certificate.
- Passport and valid visa copies
- Passport-size photographs: Two photos each of the bride and groom.
- If previously married, additional documents may be required. Please contact the Parish Office and provide the applicable document(s):
- Death or burial certificate of the previous spouse.
- Civil divorce or annulment decree (certified true copy).
- Church annulment certificate (original)
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament in the Catholic Church that offers spiritual and sometimes physical healing to those who are seriously ill, elderly or near death. It provides grace, comfort and strength, helping the sick unite their suffering with Christ and prepare for eternal life if death is near.
The Sacrament of Anointing may be given to members of the Parish who are sick. Again, contact the office to schedule an appointment to meet the Priest or request a visit from the Priest.
FAQS ABOUT SAINT ANTHONY’S CHURCH RAK
WHAT ARE ST. ANTHONY CHURCH MASS TIMINGS?
You can view St. Anthony of Padua mass timings on the official website, here.
WHAT IS THE SAINT ANTHONY’S CHURCH RAK LOCATION?
The St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church is located in Al Jazeera Al Hamra and is close to many other churches, such as St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, St. Mary’s Orthodox Church and many more. If you want to find a place to live close to the church, you can opt for the villas for rent in Al Jazeera Al Hamra.
WHAT ARE THE SAINT ANTHONY’S CHURCH RAK CONTACT DETAILS?
You can contact the church at +971-7-244-4320.
This sums up our guide for the St. Anthony’s Church RAK. If you’d like to travel to other emirates to attend the mass, you can check out the list of churches in Sharjah, which include the St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and the Sharjah Mar Thoma Church.
The cover image belongs to the St. Anthony’s Church RAK Facebook Page.
