St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi has released its parish notices for the week of August 8 and 9, 2026, headlined by observances marking the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the opening of registration for several adult faith-formation programs.
The Solemnity of the Assumption falls on August 15 and will be observed at all Masses that day. It will be preceded on August 14 by a 6:00 PM commemoration of the Passing of Mother Mary, followed by an Assumption Vigil Mass at 7:00 PM. A Marriage Renewal Mass for couples celebrating anniversaries in August is scheduled for August 10 at 7:00 PM.
The parish also announced a face-to-face English Bible study on August 12 at 7:45 PM in the Parish Hall, to be led by Archbishop Christophe El Kassis. Daily English Masses continue at St. Therese Church at 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM from Monday to Saturday until further notice.
Registration is now open for adults seeking to deepen or begin their participation in the Catholic faith. The deadline for Adult Confirmation, open to Catholics aged 18 and older, is August 28, with the accompanying seminar running from September 7 to 12. The cathedral is also accepting ongoing registration for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), intended for adults wishing to join the Church, with seminars beginning in September. Catechism admissions for Grades 1 through 12 are open through the parish website, with a Baptism certificate issued by the Catholic Church required for enrollment.
The parish has additionally opened registration for its Sports Fest 2026, themed “Family of Faith,” which runs from September 27 to November 22, with a registration deadline of September 5.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, the Catholic jurisdiction covering the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. It serves a parish of roughly 100,000 expatriate Catholics and offers Masses in multiple languages reflecting the diversity of the country’s Christian community. The current Apostolic Vicar is Bishop Paolo Martinelli, who has led the vicariate since 2022.
