By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: The Syro-Malabar Catholics throughout the world gathered in churches and families on January 12 began praying for the release of an Indian priest abducted by Islamic militants in Yemen more than ten months ago.
The lead was given by the Oriental Church’s 57 bishops who gathered at St Mary’s Basilica, Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala.
Cardinal George Alencherry, the head of the Church, who led the prelates, said their churches throughout the world will pray during Mass for Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted on March 4, 2016, from Aden, the southern port city of Yemen.
“Everyone is pained at the continued agony of Father Tom (Uzhunnalil),” the cardinal said in his opening remarks. “Our intense prayers can convert the hearts of his abductors. Only continued prayers can help efforts to save him,” he added.
The bishops have gathered in the Oriental Church’s headquarters in Kochi, the commercial capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala, for their synod.
The synod had earlier urged its people to organize special prayer services in churches or families for the release of the 58-year-old priest.
The prelate also said the Vatican is continuing its efforts at various fronts for Father Uzhunnalil’s release.The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council are in constant touch with the federal government, he added.
The prayer service in the basilica was led by Archbishop George Njaralakatt of Tellicherry.
The prayers are being held in the wake of a video clipping that appeared on social media just before Christmas. It showed a bearded man resembling Father Uzhunnalil pleading the Indian government and Pope Francis to increase efforts for his release.
The priest was taken into custody by Islamic militants from a home for elderly managed by the Missionaries of Charity in Aden. The abductors killed 16 people, including four nuns, who worked in the center.