Coronavirus: Tributes pour in for Fr Youssef who passed away due to Covid-19 in UAE

Father Youssef Sami Youssef, 62, was under treatment for almost three weeks.

The assistant parish priest of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Sharjah for the Arabic speaking community passed away on Sunday evening at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman due to multiple complications arising from Covid-19, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) posted on its website.
Father Youssef Sami Youssef, 62, 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.
Father Youssef has been a missionary in the region 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). He was stationed at St. Michael's Church, Sharjah since 2016.
Father 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. 
He was an outgoing and lively personality and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him, especially by all the Arabic and French speaking community in the Vicariate. 
Parishioners took to the official Facebook account of St. Michael's Church to pay tribute to Father Youssef.
"Our sympathy and heartfelt condolences to all the capuchin order of priest (OFM Cap) family. May our heavenly father accept Fr. Youssef Sami in his vineyard," posted Henry Castelino.
"Heartfelt condolences to the Sharjah catholic community and our prayers for the repose of the noble soul," added MV Jose from Kerala, India
"Lovely and I remember him as a very sweet priest. The news of his untimely demise is sad and shocking," said FJ Tharakan in his tribute.
"Father thank you for the good advice when I come to you in Sharjah church," added Palmenco Maria Emelinda.
A requiem mass for Father Youssef will be held on May 19.
michael@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi