Bengaluru: The autobiography of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest who spent 18 months in captivity in Yemen, was released at a function in Bengaluru, southern India.
Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, released “By Grace of God” at St John’s Medical College where the prelates from all 174 dioceses gathered for their biennial plenary. Cardinal Cleemis presented a copy of the book to Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi.
Cardinals Oswald Gracias, president of the Latin bishops, and George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, also were on the stage.
The book narrates the life of Father Uzhunnalil from his childhood to his formation in the Salesian congregation, to his missionary work in Yemen. It narrates in detail his abduction and imprisonment.
The book is published by “Kristu Jyoti Publications” of the Salesians of Bangalore.
Father Uzhunnalil currently stays at the headquarters of the Salesians’ Bangalore province.
Islamic militants released him from captivity on September 12, 2017. He was abducted on March 4, 2016, from a Missionaries of Charity home for the aged at Aden, Yemen.