Fr. Youssef Sami Youssef OFM Cap.,(62), Assistant Parish Priest at St. Michael’s Church Shariqah for the Arabic speaking community, passed away on May 17 at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman due to multiple complications arising from Covid-19.

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 18 November 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 4 October 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 2 July 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.

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.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.