In Qatar, church moves from underground as country embraces democracy

Published: 2004-06-01

DOHA, Qatar (CNS) -- For decades, Christians in Qatar had to practice their faith in cramped garages, private homes and, most recently, in foreign schools and prefabricated halls. But now the government of this tiny Persian Gulf nation has donated a large chunk of land to the Catholic Church and other Christian communities to build the first churches on Qatari sands since the seventh century. It all started after a new constitution was overwhelmingly approved by the government in April 2003; it promises to guarantee the freedom of expression, religion, assembly and association. These new rights meant the prefabricated building on the outskirts of the capital, Doha, went from being an underground, but tolerated, mission parish to one legally recognized. In October 2003, church leaders officially named it the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Today, parishioners still sweat it out in the one-story hall which, despite the churning overhead fans, can turn into a sauna when outside temperatures top 110 degrees. "We hope to lay the first foundation stone of the new church on Oct. 7 (the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) this year and 18 months from then to officially move in," said Indian Father Lester Mendonsa, diocesan priest of the 48,000 Catholics in Qatar.

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