Parish priest Fr. Leny Supe Escalada at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai. ARCHIVE

St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai has fully reopened to worshippers after receiving approval from the Community Development Authority (CDA) to resume normal operations, ending nearly three months of restrictions on Mass attendance and parish activities. The church announced that "100 percent reopening" took effect on Wednesday (July 1). In a statement issued on behalf of Parish Priest Fr. Leny Supe Escalada, church officials shared the news with parishioners: "On behalf of our Parish Priest Fr. Leny Supe Escalada, OFMCap., we are delighted and excited to inform you that the Community Development Authority informed us of a 100% reopening of our Church beginning today, 1st July 2026." The announcement marks the full restoration of liturgical services after the church resumed limited operations on April 11 under strict safety measures. St. Mary's had suspended church activities beginning April 3 following heightened regional security concerns stemming from Iran's prolonged attacks on the UAE that began on February 28. When the church reopened later in April, attendance remained tightly controlled. Masses were held only inside designated indoor venues, including the Main Church, Bishop Gremoli Hall, Bishop Paul Hall, and rooms above Bishop Paul Hall, while outdoor gatherings and parish activities remained suspended. To manage crowd levels, only adults aged 18 and above were allowed to attend obligatory weekend Masses, with entry requiring advance online registration through the church's official website. Walk-in worshippers were not permitted, and parishioners who could not secure a slot were encouraged to join Masses through the church's online livestreams. With the CDA's latest approval, those restrictions have now been lifted, allowing the parish to resume full-capacity worship and church activities. St. Mary's Catholic Church is one of the largest Catholic parishes in the UAE, serving tens of thousands of worshippers from diverse nationalities through daily Masses and pastoral services. The parish continues to hold multiple Masses throughout the day, with schedules beginning as early as 6:30am and extending into the evening. CAM/Expat Media
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