<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmdMwXtWmnQorZMtU5dCJEcugCj2MuTg99xxPeVnoGXiNU/image.png</center><center> <sub> The newly erected St. Therese Church in Abu Dhabi, just next to the St. Joseph Cathedral </sub></center>

<h2> We are lucky. </h2>
Yesterday, on <a href = "https://steemit.com/blog/@arrliinn/my-13th-christmas-away-from-home-the-ofw-overseas-filipino-worker-way"> my Christmas post</a>, I said I had lots of thoughts while the attending the mass, and would share them on another time... Though I had a long day today, and I could not practically put my thoughts together properly - still, here are some of them.

It was a busy day at the church, wherein they had a total of 19 masses in different languages. This was apart from the Christmas Eve vigil masses. Last night, I decided to attend the 7:00pm English mass. It was held outdoors.

<p><div class = "pull-right">https://steemitimages.com/DQmUdeuWKzrt2upPmxJSqTGN81y2aSY8JS3nP7zW68WBmYD/image.png<br><em><sub> The mosque next to the St. Joseph Church</sub> </em></div></p>
Just as the Processional was over and the Bishop was about to start, the <em>Isha</em> (evening) Prayer Call from the nearby mosque was played. If you were in an Islamic country like the UAE for sometime, or have been around a predominantly Muslim community, you would be aware that their prayer calls were played loud enough for almost everyone to hear. Hence, Bishop Paul paused (without even starting yet) for a good 5 minutes to give way for the call.

<p><div class = "pull-left"> https://steemitimages.com/DQmR7MQekrNi4t1QeLhTtB5oNodkAv7tsppqMuKez2kpsEp/image.png</div>
<em>We are very lucky here in the UAE, where we can freely practice our religion. There are some countries, like the Saudi Arabia where they are very conservative when it comes to such ideologies. Bishop Paul even mentioned that in Yemen, there was not a single priest to serve the Catholic Community there due to the <a href = "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Civil_War_(2015%E2%80%93present)">ongoing civil war.</a></em></p>

<h2> The Lost Boy</h2>
Towards the end of the celebration, just after the communion, there was an announcement made. It was quite an odd timing to make an announcement unrelated to the ongoing mass, but it was totally understandable.

<b>A little boy was found, he was barely three years old perhaps. Anyone who had lost their child may come near the altar to get the boy.</b>

My heart felt like it had been constricted by a huge python. My mommy instinct kicked in. *Poor boy.*

Where were the parents? From time to time, the boy, carried by a Lay Minister was shown at the large white screens next to the altar. He was obviously tired and sleepy, and leaned at the Lay Minister's shoulder. It's probably been almost 10 minutes after the announcement and nobody has approached to get the child. I expected that as soon as the announcement was made, we would see someone rush to the front. No one did.

Just before the mass ended, we came to know through the community announcement, that the boy was actually found by the Police right outside the church compound. They brought him inside since they were pretty sure that the boy got separated from his parents who could have been attending the mass.


<p><div class = "pull-left"> https://steemitimages.com/DQmZqFcyvSt6sjLkc5XCWxR2BgEKfdg1EeddC2xdupWPGAR/image.png</div>
<em>As a mother, I wonder what could have been the feelings of the lost boy's parents that very moment. It was Christmas and this sad thing happened. If it were me, I would have been like a crazy headless chicken running aimlessly.
I pray that the boy had been reunited to his parents already. It would be very traumatic if he weren't.</em></p>

<h2> The Celebrations Were Everywhere In The Vicinity</h2>

The thing though, was that, the big crowd were not just in the Catholic Church compound at that time. Around the area were several other churches.
<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmSD3CQXodx9J139LNts8nhd1XsNQyy5JbnFZZzFjFw7Sc/image.png</center>

Just look at this picture of the Evangelical Church, just behind the St. Joseph Church. A closer look would show you a big crowd gathered at their grounds too. Not as many as in the Catholic Church, but still.

<h3> Open House</h3>

This was dedicated to those who did not have families to celebrate Christmas with. The Church had opened up its doors for these people to come and celebrate together. They had lots of food to share, and of course, a big possibility of gaining a friend or two.


<p><div class = "pull-left">https://steemitimages.com/DQmcVrhNW23mecytChP8UaoMVRWLo2fRLdUbr6TkvmnSpxk/image.png</div><em> Co-existence. This was the thought that mainly came by me last night. It was nice to see how harmoniously the different people from different churches manage to co-exist in this City (or country, that is). If only this could happen on a larger scale - like all over the world, then we could all live in peace and worry not about war and it's effect to all of us.</em></p>

<h3> Abu Dhabi.</h3>

I wish he had a youtube page so that you could view this wonderful video of his directly here at steemit, but I'm sharing here the link that would direct you to <a href = "https://www.facebook.com/khalidalameri/?hc_ref=ARTEZUUPbcn17rpVed_vY0dqG6DRTNlyH5w_IfrtTq5VFq8BPZM-JldnwAkZ7nSjWmw&fref=nf">Khalid Al Ameri's facebook page</a>. He is an Emirati artist who shares his vlogs via facebook and instagram. This one below, just shows Abu Dhabi's hospitality to embrace us Non-Muslims, and co-exist without conflict. **Really wonderful.**

<center><a href = "https://www.facebook.com/khalidalameri/videos/506074586438592/"> <img src = "https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ5f6kjiCKazn1sE9uksM52gtMHaHQk8uMsvc27dC3EMS/image.png"></a></center><center><sub> Screenshot from Khalid Al Ameri's video uploaded on his Facebook Page. Please click to be directed to the video.</sub></center>

<h2>Christmas Everyday</h2>
Christmas is a merry season. A season to be jolly. A time of giving. For on this day, we commemorate the birth of Christ. HE was humble enough to come into this world to save us all from our sins. 

If only everyday we would live the Christmas Spirit. What a wonderful world it would be, right?

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