The actual event I went to the UAE for (the Arabian Catholic Youth Conference) was held in Ras al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (of which Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the best known). RAK is a two hour drive through the desert from Dubai, and that desert was not quite what I expected. It was composed of orange sand that is more like powder than the sand of the seashore. And rather than
seeing cows or horses from the car window, sure enough, there were real,
live camels in the distance. Walking around the Church compounds the next day, I also spotted some lovely desert plants and interesting bird tracks.
But I was not there for sight-seeing. Arriving Thursday evening, I saw a great deal of preparation going on: a massive outdoor stage was rising in the courtyard between the Church and the parish house; young people were setting up a "Gethsemane Garden" for prayer in solitude; there was a pro-life exhibit, activity tents, and in the parish center, dorms were being equipped for the overnighters.
Sr Bernadette Mary Reis of Vatican Radio had already interviewed the organizers (and the bishop of Southern Arabia), and once I arrived, interviewed me as well. I also became an unofficial photographer for Vatican news coverage of the event, providing all the photos featured on the Vatican site. (The young people were thrilled to pose for Vatican News!)
The participants came from all over the “Arabian Gulf” region, plus small numbers from Jordan and Lebanon. The delegates from Saudi Arabia, sadly, were unable to get their visas on time, but there were groups from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, and the bishop of Northern Arabia and Southern Arabia, as well as the Papal Nuncio for the Arabian gulf nations. The event was coordinated by the young adult groups of the UAE, all working together. This in itself is highly significant, because there are many distinct groups, some of them with roots in the home countries (for example, Jesus Youth from India, and Couples for Christ from the Philippines), so the collaboration among them was an important step forward for the church in the region.
I was one of four speakers brought in from other nations for the event. The others were John Pridmore (a converted enforcer and “entrepreneur" in organized crime who
now lives in community in poverty, chastity and obedience), JC Libiran
(a Filipino life coach), and Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra,
Australia. I was the only woman. (Next time, you can be sure, there will
be a more balanced representation of the Church!) A few days before, we had been interviewed by a tabloid newspaper, the Gulf News, for an article that would be strictly cultural, with no religious reference at all. (The article that was published especially focused on John Pridmore's colorful life, but it did include a photo of me with John and JC, so like it or not a “religious” angle was there!)
The conference began with an African drum procession, a proclamation, and an energetic (and superbly performed) dance routine. All the general assembly talks were held in the Church hall, which comfortably held the 1500, with room to spare for spontaneous dancing during the musical sessions in between talks and Mass.
When the conference was over, I had hoped to take some pictures of the desert (and the camels!) but we traveled back to Dubai late at night. All I saw were families on picnic blankets in the sand, having picnics by their cars... They do everything at night because the daytime is so blastedly hot, even now when (I was told more than once) the approach of “winter” temperatures means it does not get over 100ยบ during the day.
On my last day I had some free hours, so one of the organizers (a young woman who had participated in the "pre-Synod" meetings in Rome) took me to the ultra-deluxe Dubai Mall (replete with aquarium, ice rink, three-story fountain and other dazzling offerings). I also got to see the old style open market, the souk, where every merchant tried to tantalize me with their high quality Iranian saffron and other delicacies. I was tempted, but did not want to deal with any Customs agents on my way home—or any additional weight in my suitcase! (As it is, my trusty, battered Samsonite had to be delivered to an East Boston repair shop last week.) 
Now back in Boston I'm attempting to shift gears into Christmas concert mode: I can hardly believe that the choir will be assembling here in just two and a half weeks! (I have got a lot of practicing to do...)
An important message for our Boston-area friends: after last year's event when there was barely standing room in the chapel and we were nervously telling each other what to do in case of emergency, we are moving to a bigger and better location. The concerts will be at Fontbonne Academy's newly updated performance hall (in Milton). Tickets are on sale now.
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