On Friday, September 18, 2026, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, officially opened the Silver Jubilee celebrations of St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Fujairah.

The school, part of St. Mary’s Group of Schools, belongs to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia and is currently entrusted to the Salesian Fathers. Mr. Joe Flynn, Managing Director of St. Mary’s Group of Schools, directors and principals of some of the schools belonging to St. Mary’s Group of Schools were also present.

The celebration began in a festive and symbolic way. On his arrival, Bishop Paolo, together with Joe Flynn, Fr. Rozario, and Fr. Dominic, respectively principal and rector of the school, released a couple of doves and balloons in the colors of the United Arab Emirates flag. Later, the Bishop unveiled the official logo of the school’s 25th anniversary, formally marking the beginning of the Jubilee celebrations.

The program continued in the school hall, where around 600 students were present, while the others followed the ceremony through a live connection. The atmosphere was joyful and deeply felt, with active participation from students, teachers, and staff. Different groups of students took turns on stage, presenting traditional dances from various countries, giving visible expression to one of the school’s most characteristic features: its multicultural identity.

Today, St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Fujairah welcomes around 2,600 students from 41 different countries. This diversity was strongly reflected in the celebration, which highlighted the school’s commitment to forming young people who can grow together, respect one another, and look beyond cultural differences.

Welcoming the community, Fr. Rosario, Principal of St. Mary’s Catholic High School, described the Jubilee as a journey of gratitude and hope. “What began as a small seed has grown into a beautiful family, touching and transforming thousands of young lives” through faith, education, values, and service. Looking ahead, he invited the school community to continue writing this story together with renewed vision: “This is our school. This is our story. This is our pride.”

During the ceremony, Bishop Paolo and the guests present received commemorative plaques from the school. A special recognition was also presented by the Bishop to members of staff who have served at St. Mary’s Catholic High School since its foundation, acknowledging their long-standing dedication and contribution to the life of the school.

In his address, Joe Flynn invited the students to look to the future with courage and responsibility. He recalled that 25 years ago the school was born from the vision of people who believed in the future, at a time when many of today’s realities — including social media, and the technological tools now part of daily life — were not yet present in the same way. He encouraged the students to become protagonists of the future, learning to use technology responsibly and allowing it to be guided by humanity and moral values.

In his speech, Bishop Paolo gave thanks for “twenty-five years of commitment to the education of new generations,” describing them as years of dedication, growth, and educational service.

He expressed gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates, especially the Ruler of Fujairah, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, for making it possible for the Vicariate to contribute to the field of education in the Emirate. He also recalled with gratitude Bishop Giovanni Bernardo Gremoli, under whose leadership the school was founded, and Bishop Paul Hinder, who gave strong support to the development of the Vicariate schools and entrusted the school in Fujairah to the Salesian Fathers.

Bishop Paolo also thanked Dr. Mohammed Al Kindy for his continued support since the foundation of the school, and remembered the Comboni Sisters, who accompanied the school in its early years and helped it to grow.

Looking to the future, the Bishop underlined that education today is “even more crucial” than in the past. In a world marked by rapid discoveries and extraordinary technological possibilities, but also by unrest, conflict, and war, schools are called to “help families grow their young people not only in knowledge but also in wisdom, in those moral, spiritual, and religious values” so that they may contribute to building “a society that is more peaceful, more just, more human, and more fraternal.”

The Silver Jubilee is therefore not only a moment to remember the past with gratitude, but also an invitation to look ahead. As Bishop Paolo reminded the school community, “it is only together” that we grow in knowledge and wisdom, and that we can build a better world.