Dubai's mega-church produces free meals for 6,000 families in need


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

More than 6,000 workers and families received free meals from a Dubai church as volunteers rallied to support those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Meals of Grace campaign began in April with only five volunteers and has since evolved into a dedicated team of 45 people, as well as drawing support from 18 restaurants across the city. The initiative is in supported by local authorities.

The meals are collected from the restaurants and sent to St Mary's Catholic Church, which has one of the largest Catholic congregations in the world, to be distributed to those in need.

Among those to benefit are people put on reduced wages and some residents who have lost their jobs.

The drive was in the spirit of a broader effort started by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, who called on volunteers to deliver free meals under his Your City Needs You campaign.

“Even though the church was closed in March there were still queues of around 50 or 60 people outside who were asking if we could give them food. They were only looking for something simple like rice or lentils,” said Susan Jose, 39, one of the lead volunteers.

We are grateful to St Mary's for the boxes of food and medicine they provided. It has given me hope while I search for a new job

“The watchmen at the gates phoned us to let us know about the people in need.”

She said about 200 food parcels, which typically consist of rice, flour, pasta and lentils, were sent out several times a week to support parishioners who had fallen on hard times.

“The initial plan was to provide meals to workers who were stranded here without visas but as time went on we saw many families were also affected and needed our support,” said Ms Jose, an Indian resident.

“It started in March and in the middle of the summer we were sending out food every day. It’s at least several times a week now.”

Even though the church remains closed to the public, she said St Mary’s is doing all it can to help those in need.

“We send out a plea for people to donate what they can during the online masses and people and businesses have been so supportive,” she said.

“We have leaders among the church who go out into their own communities and assess who needs our help.”

In one instance, a donation of 280 meals was sent to help a camp of female bus conductors in Dubai.

Sobia Piara Masih, 44, a Pakistani hairdresser, was among those who received aid from the initiative.

“Because of Covid-19, there have been no customers and almost zero business," she said.

"We had been paid only 50 per cent of our salaries.

“We are very happy and grateful that St Mary's provided us food that gave us the energy to continue with our jobs in these tough times.”

Benjamin Noronha, 54, has been on unpaid leave from the hotel he works for since March.

“The electricity in our accommodation was disconnected two months ago and we were not able to buy food for several weeks,” said the Indian, who has lived in Dubai for the past 25 years.

“We are grateful to St Mary’s for the boxes of food and medicine they provided. It has given me hope while I search for a new job.”

Fr Lennie Connully, parish priest at St Mary’s, said the project would not have been possible without the full support of the Community Development Authority and the government of Dubai, as well as supermarket chain West Zone, which is one of the main sponsors.

“We are doing all we can to support those vulnerable people during this crisis,” he said.

“Proper nutrition is absolutely vital at a challenging time like this and we are delighted that we can provide this service.

“Through this initiative we were also able to assist with the repatriation of several needy workers who have been stranded without jobs or means of survival.”

Vasai Local, an Indian restaurant in Karama, is among the companies providing meals for the project.

“It’s important to give to those who don’t have a lot,” said owner Supriya Fernandes, 42.

“That’s especially the case during the pandemic when so many have been affected.”

She said the restaurant made 100 meals, several times a week, which are collected by the church to be distributed among those in need.

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Schedule in UAE time

5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)

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Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern:
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Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)

Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)

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Rating: 1/5

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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m​​​​​​​
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.

6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m​​​​​​​
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.

6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
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7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

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Four title fights:

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Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

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One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

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The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

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Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

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Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)

Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)

Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
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