Bangalore: Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore exhorted a gathering of priests, religious and laity to place an unassailable trust in God while praying for the safe release of Salesian Priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil who was abducted by suspected militants in Yemen, March 4.
The prelate presided over the Eucharistic Celebration and Prayer Vigil organized by the Archdiocese of Bangalore at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral April 4.
While expressing solidarity with the Salesian fraternity and the family members of Fr. Uzhunnalil, the archbishop urged the gathering to pray for the conversion of those who involved in such inhuman acts in the name of religion. He also expressed condolences over the massacre of four sisters of the 
Missionaries of Charity and twelve civilians in Aden, a southern port city in Yemen.
In his message, Archbishop Moras said, “We are in the Easter Season and, just last week ago, we celebrated the great feast of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection which gives us hope that our sufferings will turn into joy”. The archbishop, while drawing reference to the feast of the Annunciation, added “We are called to say ‘Yes’ to God’s Holy Will even, 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 Savior.”
The provincial of the Salesians in Karnataka briefed the gathering on the Salesian Mission in Yemen, and particularly of Fr. Uzhunnalil’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 a peace loving people”
He also appealed to the gathering not to be gullible over unauthentic news and not to pass any comments that might result in adverse effects.