Nation: Sharjah priest, 62, dies of Covid-19
St Michael’s Church official Facebook page flooded with over 1,000 messages
An assistant parish priest at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Sharjah, died on Sunday evening “due to multiple complications arising from Covid-19”, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) posted on its website.
Fr Youssef Sami Youssef, OFM Cap, 62, served Arabic and French speaking Catholics in Sharjah. He was under treatment for almost three weeks at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City in Ajman and received expert care, ventilation and stem cell therapy, according to AVOSA.
AVOSA said Fr Youssef’s “outgoing and lively personality will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and especially by all the Arabic and French speaking Catholics in the vicariate.”
[Fr Youssef’s] outgoing and lively personality will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and especially by all the Arabic and French speaking Catholics in the vicariate.”
Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia
St Michael’s Church official Facebook page was flooded with over 1,000 comments of condolences and prayers hours after Fr. Youssef’s death.
Filipino expat Palmenco Maria Emelinda posted: “Fr. Youssef, thank you for the good advice [you gave me].”
Louis Alva said: “Sad news as we have lost a very good priest. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Shanti D’souza said: “Rest in peace, Father. Thank you for all the good work you did.”
Martha Dsouza posted “Eternal rest, Lord, grant unto Fr Youssef. May his soul rest in eternal peace. We will miss you, Fr Youssef, and you will be fondly remembered always.”
Josephine D’cruz said: “Rest in peace Fr Yousef. We will always remember your smiling face.”
Fr Youssef served in various Gulf states since 1993. He was born on November 18, 1957, in Sidon, Lebanon. Fr Youssef was ordained on July 2, 1988.
A requiem mass will be offered for Fr Youssef at 7pm today.