ARCHDIOCESE OF BANGALORE OFFERS PRAYERS FOR FR. TOM’S SAFE RELEASE

On 4th April, St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral was filled with a large gathering of Priests, Religious and Lay faithful who assembled to pray for the safe release of Rev. Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, sdb who was kidnapped on 4th March, 2016 in Southern Yemen. His Grace Archbishop Bernard Moras offered the Holy Mass and participated in the Eucharistic Adoration. In his introduction and the homily, the Archbishop expressed his condolences at the massacre of four sisters of the Missionaries of Charity and twelve civilians in Aden (Southern Yemen) by a group which was “religiously -motivated”. The Archbishop invited the Congregation to pray for the safe release of Fr. Tom and for the conversion of those who are involved in such inhuman acts by killing the innocent people in the name of religion and other sinister motives. His Grace said: “We are in the Easter Season and, just last week, we celebrated the great feast of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection which gives us hope that our sufferings will turn into joy. Making a reference to the feast of the Annunciation, His Grace said that we are called to say ‘Yes’ to God’s holy will even, at times, when things go against our own wishes and decisions. Mother Mary is our role model who accepted God’s holy will to give birth to her son, Jesus Christ as our divine saviour.” The Archbishop exhorted the people to place their trust in God and continue to pray for the safe release of Fr. Tom. On behalf of the Archdiocese, His Grace assured the Salesian Fraternity that we are very much with them in this moment of anxiety and assured them that we would continue to pray for Fr. Tom, his relatives and friends, and especially for the Salesians of the Bangalore Province.”

Even though it was a weekday, there was a very large gathering in the Cathedral and the people participated in the Holy Mass and also prayed very devoutly for Fr. Tom at the Eucharistic Adoration. The Provincial Very Rev. Fr. Joyce, SDB briefed the people about the Salesians’ Mission in Yemen, and particularly of Fr. Tom’s ministry. While narrating the sequence of events, he said: “We are Christians, we don’t accuse or hate anybody; we are not discouraged or dispirited; we are not embittered, but embolden to carry on with our mission in spite of these happenings because we firmly believe that Lord Jesus Christ is very much alive and guiding us in our work. We are peace loving people.” Fr. Joyce also asked the people not to be gullible and pass any comments that might result in adverse effects.”

 

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