Speaking to AsiaNews the Capuchin priest and pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Doha, Qatar recounts that the parish belongs to the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which also encompasses Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
A situation, continues the priest of Indian origin, that ‘has brought concern, sadness and uncertainty’. Although the parish has not suffered any direct consequences, there is ‘greater sensitivity’ especially among those who ‘have felt the impact more personally. Many,’ he emphasises, ‘had fears for their loved ones, concerns about regional stability and pain for the human suffering that was taking place so close to us.’
Faced with a spiral of violence whose echoes still resonate in these days of dialogue and negotiations on nuclear issues (and other matters) between Washington and Tehran to avert a new conflict, Catholics in Qatar - touched by the 12-day war in June - remain ‘anchored in prayer’.
International diplomacy is currently at work in an attempt to calm the winds of war: the Muscat embassy in Switzerland is hosting indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busiadi acting as mediator.
The two sides speak of constructive meetings and progress, but several details remain to be discussed and the two-week deadline for an agreement remains in place. Meanwhile, the work of the Board of Peace for Gaza, established by US President Donald Trump (and over which he has exclusive decision-making power), continues. Qatar is a member country, but the Holy See has just confirmed that it will not be joining. Tomorrow, the first meeting at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace is scheduled to take place in Washington.
‘We have organised special moments of intercession for peace, including holy hours, rosaries and dedicated intentions during Mass,’ says Fr Devaraj. The faithful, he continues, prayed ‘for the protection of innocent people, comfort for bereaved families and guidance for leaders towards reconciliation’.
‘These meetings,’ he emphasises, ‘have strengthened the sense of unity and compassion, reminding us that the Church must always be a sign of hope. While aware of the context and sensitivities of Qatar, the goal is to accompany people spiritually, promote peace and encourage trust in God at this time of profound suffering for the region.’
Founded in 2006, Our Lady of the Rosary is the first Catholic church authorised in Qatar at the request of the ambassadors present in the country, especially that of France, and built on land donated by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The place of worship was consecrated on 15 March 2008 by Cardinal Ivan Dias, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and serves a community of about 300,000 faithful. It is a ‘multicultural’ community made up of ‘expatriates from different countries,’ which provides ‘a rich mosaic of languages, traditions and devotional practices.’
The parish ‘is the centre’ and ‘offers Masses, sacraments and pastoral programmes in many languages, including English, Arabic, Tagalog, Malayalam, Konkani, Tamil, Urdu, Sinhalese, French, Italian, Spanish, Swahili and Portuguese.’ It is a ‘spiritual and social home’ that provides ‘belonging, support and brotherhood to a constantly changing population.’
‘Operating within the legal and cultural framework of Qatar, the parish,’ says the priest, ‘relies on volunteers to coordinate ministries, faith formation and youth activities,’ facing daily challenges including ‘frequent population turnover and limited space for worship.’ Also weighing heavily is ‘the absence of Catholic schools,’ which makes ‘parish programmes’ ‘essential.’ The Church carries out its mission ‘with sensitivity, respecting local norms and offering emotional, material and spiritual support to expatriates.’
‘However, despite these challenges,’ he warns, ‘the Catholic community remains vibrant, disciplined and deeply devout. The faithful demonstrate remarkable participation, unity and cooperation, creating a living witness of hope and brotherhood.’
Compared to other countries in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, the Catholic community has distinctive characteristics. Bahrain and Kuwait boast a long history of recognised churches and public parish life, with several established parishes and structures, while Qatar has a more recent development but has grown to become one of the most organised and structured pastoral environments.
'The Catholic population,’ says the priest, ‘is particularly large and diverse’ and has required a ‘highly coordinated pastoral approach and a unique model in which all ministries, rites and communities operate within a single parish complex.’
‘The priests,’ he continues, "serve with remarkable dedication, but our daily mission involves demanding challenges. We carry out our ministry in a legal context that requires constant vigilance, as public expressions of faith are limited and the Church must operate in full compliance with local regulations.‘
’The multinational and multilingual community of the parish,‘ explains Fr. Devaraj, ’enriches the Church, but requires constant adaptation to different cultural expectations, liturgical traditions and linguistic needs."
Since many parishioners are migrant workers, their ‘long-term accompaniment can be difficult’ and "the pastoral needs immense: baptisms, weddings, funerals, confessions, requests for counselling and hospital visits. Many of the faithful carry personal burdens - family difficulties, financial pressures, work concerns - which priests must address with compassion, despite limited time and staff. This can lead to fatigue or even burnout.‘ At the same time, every activity ’must respect the intercultural and interreligious environment, maintaining strong relationships with local authorities and society in general.‘
In terms of pastoral care, the priority is ’to strengthen the spiritual life of the faithful by helping them deepen their relationship with Christ through the sacraments, prayer and solid catechesis," explains the priest.
‘Many parishioners,’ he says, ‘live far from their families and support systems, so compassionate accompaniment through counselling, listening and personal guidance remains essential. Another key priority is to support family life and faith formation, ensuring that children, young people and couples preparing for marriage receive adequate instruction and encouragement.’ Finally, he looks to the future, recalling the recently concluded Jubilee of Hope in a context of uncertainty and fears of new conflicts: ‘As pilgrims of hope,’ he concludes, ‘we walk this path with faith, seeking spiritual growth, peace and a deeper relationship with Christ.’