St. Michael’s Church Sharjah: Mass Schedule, Timings & More

St. Michael’s Church is a shining symbol of Catholic faith in Sharjah, serving the Catholic community since its inception. For over five decades, it has brought together people from diverse cultures, creating a shared space for prayer, peace, and praise.

Located in the Halwan suburb of Al Yarmook, St. Michael’s is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Sharjah, first founded in 1971. What began as a small chapel by Fr. Barnabas Maddii, an Italian Capuchin near the British Air Force base, soon grew into a strong and spirited parish.

Today, the church flourishes under the care of Fr. Savarimuthu Antony Samy, who became parish priest in January 2023. With his guidance, the parish now supports over 35 prayer groups and conducts services in eight languages, making it a true hub for Sharjah’s multicultural Catholic community.

In this blog post, we’ll cover its cherished past, current practices, and its continuing place in Sharjah’s Catholic community.

• Brief history of St. Michael’s Church
• St. Michael’s Church Mass schedules and timings 
• Special Masses
• Schedule of holy Masses for catechism children
• Multilingual Masses
• Location and commuting options
• Facilities and features
• Community and activities
• Contact details
• Office timings
• Key takeaways
• FAQs

Brief history of St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church began in 1971, when Fr. Barnabas Maddii established a small chapel near the British Air Force base, offering Catholics sincere yet straightforward worship. In 1973, the parish relocated to the British officers’ mess, where even the kitchen was converted into a parish home, a clear indication of the priests’ persistence and purpose.

Successive shepherds: Fr. Attilio, Fr. Edmund, Fr. Antonino, Fr. Felicio, Fr. Godwin, and Fr. Angelo, guided the growing gatherings with zeal, steadily strengthening church services and spaces. However, as the community grew, the old site could no longer suffice.

With Bishop Bernard Gremoli’s support, Fr. Angelo Fiumicelli spearheaded the construction of a new church. In October 1997, Cardinal Arinze consecrated the current building, and Fr. Angelo became its first parish priest, serving with dedication for 18 years.

Today, St. Michael’s stands as a sacred space for nearly 40,000 Catholics, celebrating Mass in multiple languages to embrace Sharjah’s multicultural and multilingual faithful.

St. Michael’s Church Mass schedules and timings

St. Michael’s Church stays open seven days a week, welcoming worshippers daily from 5:45 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

For Catholics in Sharjah, attending Mass at St. Michael’s is a central part of community and commitment. To make sure every parishioner can participate, the St. Michael’s Church schedule is carefully crafted and consistently spread across the week as follows:

St. Michael’s Church has very accommodating Mass timings. They cater to both early risers and those who prefer evening services.

Special Masses

St. Michael’s Church conducts a special Mass every month in the main church on the 4th Monday at 07:45 p.m. for:

• Thanksgivings
• Birthdays
• Wedding Anniversaries

A special youth Mass is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of each month at 07:00 p.m. in the parish hall.

This monthly Mass creates a meaningful moment for young people and families, strengthening community connection and shared celebration.

Schedule of holy Masses for catechism children

St. Michael’s Church offers Mass timings that include special services for catechism children in various languages. These scheduled celebrations help young parishioners connect closely with their faith, foster firm foundations, and follow core catechism teachings.

Multilingual Masses

St. Michael’s caters to multilingual worshippers. Below are the corresponding details:

There is also a weekly mass in the Konkani language. It is conducted on the second and fourth Sundays in the main church.

Malayalam Mass (Syro Malabar Rite)

Tagalog Mass

Tamil Mass

Sinhalese Mass

Urdu Mass

Such diversity ensures that, regardless of your language, you get to participate in a church service.

Location and commuting options

St. Michael’s sits on 15 Abdullah Bin Anees Street in Al-Yarmook, Sharjah, just 15 minutes from the airport. Set in a calm suburb, it’s close to Bu Daniq, where many Catholics seek homes near the church. Public transport is scarce, but driving or taking taxis is a simple choice, and parking spaces are plentiful in the parish.

Facilities and features

St. Michael’s Church, opened in 1997, was shaped to serve larger congregations with comfort and care. Spread over two storeys, it features spaces for services, socials, and special ceremonies. With a modern yet modest design, it creates a calm, contemplative setting centred on the altar. Through the years, it has stood strong as Sharjah’s spiritual sanctuary and social centre.

Community and activities

St. Michael’s is more than just a venue for your weekly mass. It is a living community. Herein, faith translates into shared experiences.

Over 35 prayer groups meet every week. Each group represents different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, yet they feel united by the same faith.

The church places a strong emphasis on youth activities. Catechism programs attract over 4,000 children weekly. Classes take place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Choirs, altar servers, and volunteers all enrich the life of the parish.

The church has a team of:

• 167 Eucharistic Ministers
• 139 Lectors
• 80 Volunteers
• 113 Altar Servers

They all work together to support the parish. Six priests are also responsible for officiating the Mass in different languages.

Six priests associated with St. Michael’s Church are:

• Parish Priest: Fr. Savarimuthu Antony Samy 
• Asst. Parish Priests:

1. Fr. Maged Moussa 
2. Fr. Denis Saldanha 
3. Fr. John Thundiyath 
4. Fr. Jose Vattukulathil Alexander 
5. Fr. Deo Fernando Quinto 

• Fr. Maged Moussa is also the Spiritual Director for the French and Arabic communities. 
• Fr. Denis Saldanha is also the spiritual director of the Konkani community. 
• Fr. John Thundiyath is also the Spiritual Director for the Syro-Malankara community. 
• Fr. Jose Vattukulathil Alexander is also the spiritual director of the Malayalam community. 
• Fr. Deo Fernando Quinto is also the spiritual director of the Filipino community.

For those inclined towards music, a 28-member choir leads the congregation in song. Their soulful prayers make the whole atmosphere vibrant. All these activities make this church one of the most dynamic Catholic communities in the UAE.

To stay informed about the latest activities and events, visit the official website. It will provide you with an insight into all the latest announcements from St. Michael’s Church.

Learn more about living in Sharjah as an expat.

Contact details

• Address: 15 Abdullah Bin Anees Street, Halwan Suburb, Al Yarmook, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• Tel: +971 6 566 24224 
• P.O. Box: 1745, Sharjah 

Office timings:

• 08:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• 04:30 p.m. to 08:30 p.m.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with the office during the specified hours.

Key takeaways

St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah, has stood as the city’s central Catholic parish since 1971. Once a small chapel, it has steadily grown into a spacious spiritual and social centre with modern facilities.

Daily Masses are held, with special weekend services that highlight youth and children, encouraging families to come together in faith.

Prayers are offered in nine languages, showing the parish’s cultural and Catholic diversity.

Located in Al Yarmook, near other churches, it’s easily accessible by taxi or car. With devoted clergy and dynamic parish groups, St. Michael’s is more than a place of worship—it is a thriving community hub.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Share