The faithful of St. Paul’s Parish in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, gathered last week to mark the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi.
Held as part of the ongoing Extraordinary Franciscan Jubilee, the commemoration featured prayer, a theatrical presentation and sacred music.
The centerpiece of the liturgical and cultural observances was a dramatization of the Transitus, depicting the passage of St. Francis from earthly life to eternal glory.
Directed by Fr. Augustine and organized under the pastoral guidance of Parish Priest Fr. Maxim, the production brought together parishioners who portrayed the final moments of the Saint of Assisi.
Fr. Michael Fernandes, OFM Cap., Custos of the Capuchin Custody of Arabia, presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Fernandes reflected on the significance of the Franciscan legacy in the modern world.
“The Transitus is not merely a historic remembrance of death, but an invitation to witness the ultimate victory of humility, peace, and total surrender to Christ,” Fr. Fernandes said, emphasizing how St. Francis’s embrace of “Sister Death” continues to inspire generations toward joyful fraternity and ecological stewardship.
Following the liturgy and theatrical performance, nine parish choirs took part in a Franciscan Jubilee Concert.
The musical gathering brought together voices from across the multicultural community of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.
The Capuchin friars also joined the performance, singing a traditional hymn dedicated to Il Poverello, or the Little Poor Man.
Their participation drew warm response from the congregation and reflected the fraternity between the clergy and lay faithful in the United Arab Emirates.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia said the celebration of theater and song reflected the Franciscan spirit of unity, peace and faith in Abu Dhabi and across the Arabian Peninsula.
