Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap.

Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap.

Bishop Paul Hinder was born in Bussnang TG, Switzerland, on 22 April 1942 to Wilhelm Hinder and Agnes Meile. 

He joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order in 1962 and was ordained a priest on 4 July 1967. After specialized studies in Canon Law in Munich and Fribourg, he obtained his Doctorate in Theology in 1976. He was active as a professor, in the formation of young Capuchins, later as provincial in Switzerland and as General Councillor in Rome for the worldwide Capuchin Order. 

On 20 December 2003, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Arabia and was ordained Bishop on 30 January 2004 in Abu Dhabi. On 21 March 2005 he succeeded Msgr. Bernardo Gremoli (now retired) as Vicar Apostolic of Arabia (UAE, Oman,Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia). After the Vicariate of Arabia was divided into the Northern and Southern Vicariates, Bishop Paul shepherds the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (UAE, Oman, Yemen).

Bishop Paul is a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, a consultor to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He is also a member of the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Middle East.

The faithful of St. Joseph's Parish, Abu Dhabi would be celebrating the feast of Saint Paul in honour of beloved Bishop Paul in an Eucharistic Celebration at 7 pm on Thursday, June 29 2017.