Vatican City: The head of the Salesian congregation donated his cross to Father Tom Uzhunnalil as a concrete manifestation of closeness and affection to “a confrere who was lost, far from us, and who was able to return among us.”
Father Ángel Fernández Artime parted with his Salesian Cross to Father Uzhunnalil at the end of their meeting at the Salesian community in the Vaticanon September 13.
“Many times we have asked the Lord that His will be done and that you never lack inner strength. We can see this has been so,” Father Artime told the Indian priest who was released a day earlier from the custody of Islamic militants in Yemen.
“There is no doubt that she (Blessed Virgin Mary) accompanied you every day like a mother,” the Salesian chief said to which Father Uzhunnalil nodded.
The 59-year-old Indian priest was abducted on March 4, 2016, from a home for aged in Aden, a port city in southern Yemen.
After expressing his closeness to Father Uzhunnalil’s family, the Rector Major handed him his Salesian cross, and spoke of the full value of this gesture. “I want to offer you my Salesian cross, which I always bring with me, so that you can bring it with you. And with this sign, it is a bit as if all Salesians, from today, were with you now and forever.”
(Source: ANS)