One year on, prayers continue for Father Uzhunnalil

The Salesian priest of Kerala origin was abducted in Yemen on March 4, 2016.

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil.

Kochi:  Even as the incarceration of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil completed a year on Mar 4, his well-wishers, members of his Church, and relatives observed a day of prayer for his health, safety, and governmental intervention for his release.

The Salesian priest of Kerala origin was abducted from an old-age home run by the Missionaries of Charity in Aden in strife-torn Yemen on March 4, 2016.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and the Salesian province of Bengaluru jointly organised a prayer meeting in Kochi on Saturday for the release of Fr. Uzhunnalil.

CBCI President and Syro-Malankara Church head Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, Syro-Malabar Church head Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil of Verapolyand Archbishop Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum were among those who participated in the prayer meeting organised at the Ernakulam Town Hall. People from different walks of life attended the meeting.

Hundreds of people joined his relatives at his ancestral home at Ramapuram in Pala at the day-long prayer service. The prayer was organised by the Uzhunnalil Kudumba Yogam.

His home parish authorities organised a day-long fast, prayers, and rallies in the morning at his home town. A public meeting organised in the evening at Ramapuram Forane Church was addressed by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala.

UDF leaders joined a day-long fast organised by the Kerala Congress (Jacob) at Gandhi Square in the town. KC (Jacob) workers were led by Anoop Jacob, MLA, and party chairman Johnney Nellore.

On the day Fr. Uzhunnalil was abducted by terrorists a year ago, 16 others, including four Missionaries of Charity nuns serving at the old age home, were gunned down.

The priest’s videos were released twice during the past one year seeking help from Indian and Vatican authorities for his release.

While Indian authorities point to the volatile situation in Yemen and the absence of a full-fledged diplomatic mission there as the key reasons for the failure in making any tangible movement for the priest’s release, the church authorities have said that the office of the Archbishop of Abu Dhabi is coordinating such efforts.

Source: Hindu