By: Felix Anthony
Miao, 13 September: The people in east Arunachal Pradesh, especially the Christians, responded to the release of Fr. Tom with an expression of gratitude to God on 12 September 2017.
The news about Fr. Tom’s release, who was kidnapped by suspected Islamic terrorists 18 months ago in Yemen, was received with great joy. Responding to this great news, the people of Miao Diocese organized a thanksgiving prayer at the Catholic Church in Neotan village on the evening of 13 September.
Bishop George of Miao Diocese said this to be a miracle. “Fr. Tom is alive and he has been released. This indeed a great news and it reinstates our confidence in prayers”, he said. This calls for a sincere expression of our gratitude to God.
Diocese of Miao has been praying for the release of Fr. Tom ever since he was kidnapped 18 months ago, after killing four Missionaries of Charity Sisters at a care home in Aden city in Yemen. 12 others were killed in that terrorist attack on March 4, 2016. Miao Diocese had organized pilgrimage and special prayers for his release. It also remembered to pray for Fr. Tom during the Chrism Mass this year on 6 April.
The release of Fr. Tom increases our confidence in the power of prayers, said Mr. Chomjung Mossang, village Catechist from Neotan.
Sr. Alphonsa SH, who hails from the same place as Fr. Tom, and is working at a School in Miao Diocese at present, thanked all the people gathered for the thanksgiving prayers and for all the prayer initiative taken by the Diocese of Miao over the 18 months of Fr. Tom’s captivity.
The Diocese of Miao expresses its gratitude to the Government of India and also the King of Oman for securing the release of Fr. Tom.