Daijiworld Media Network – Sharjah (AM)
Sharjah, May 18: Fr Youssef Sami Youssef OFM Cap (62), assistant parish priest at St Michael’s Church, Sharjah for the Arabic speaking community, passed away on Sunday May 18 at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman due to multiple complications arising from coronavirus (Covid-19), announced Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) on its website.
Fr Youssef was under treatment for almost three weeks at the multi-speciality hospital and received expert care, ventilation and stem cell therapy. However, since he already had some underlying medical conditions, he soon started to develop critical multiple organ failures.
Fr Youssef has been a missionary in the Gulf states since 1993, serving the Arabic and French speaking communities at St. Mary’s Church Dubai (1993-1995), Our Lady of the Rosary Church Doha (2004-2008), Sacred Heart Church, Manama (2008-2011), St Joseph’s Cathedral Abu Dhabi (2011-2015), Holy Spirit Church, Ghala and St Mary’s Church Al Ain (2016). From 2016 till the present, Fr Youssef was stationed at St Michael’s Church Sharjah.
Fr Youssef was born on November 18, 1957 in Deir Dourit, Mont Liban in the Maronite Diocese of Sidon. He joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) of the General Custody of the Near East and made his profession on October 4, 1977. After completing his Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Holy Spirit University Kaslik Jounieh, Lebanon, Fr Youssef and was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 1988.
Fr Youssef has also held several senior roles in the Capuchin Custody of the Near East, including that of the Vice Provincial from 2001-2004. He was also a member of both the Bishop’s Council (2011-2020) and the Council of the Capuchin Custody of Arabia.
Details awaited regarding the burial and memorial masses for Fr Youssef, according to AVOSA.