By Isaac Harold Gomes
Kolkata: Father Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian priest who spent 557 days in captivity in Yemen, on February 26 made an emotional visit to the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, eastern India.
The Salesian priest was abducted by Islamic militants two years ago from a Missionaries of Charity home for elderly in Aden, Yemen, after killing four nuns and 12 co-workers.
The highlight of the 59-year-old priest’s first visit the “Motherhouse” after his release was his poser to the nuns present: How many of them would volunteer to go to Yemen knowing they may not return. All the nuns raised their hands that surprised both Father Uzhunnalil and their superior general Sister Mary Prema.
Earlier, the priest offered thanksgiving Mass at the main chapel in the mother house attended among others by superior general Sister Prema and her deputy Sister Lysa. In Mass intentions they thanked God for making Father Uzhunnali “a true witness of love and dedication” and prayed for those in captivity and suffering torture for their faith.
After the Mass, the priest addressed a question-answer session with the sisters and their collaborators. One foreign collaborator asked Father Uzhunnalil whether any ransom was paid to secure his release. The priest replied he had no clue as he was in captivity, mostly in blindfold. However, he clarified nothing would have transpired without the knowledge of the Sultan of Oman.
Asked about his meeting with the Sultan, the Catholic priest replied he never met the Sultan. The WhatsApp photograph that shows with the Sultan was taken in front of the Sultan’s portrait at Muscat Airport, he clarified.
Father Uzhunnalil, who came to Kolkata on February 17 on a 10-day visit, thanked the nuns for their prayers and expressed his condolences for the slain four nuns, including Sister Anselm from India’s Ranchi. The other nuns were Sisters Reginette and Marguerite from Rwanda and Sister Judith from Kenya.
On February 25, Auxilium Parish, the only Salesian and the largest parish in Kolkata, was packed to capacity for a thanksgiving Mass for the safe return of Father Uzhunnalil.
Priests, nuns and lay people from many parishes in the archdiocese attended the 5 pm Mass where Father Uzhunnalil was the main celebrant, along with Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta.
Archbishop D’Souza, in his introductory remarks, said in early church when Apostles were taken captive, the whole Church prayed for their well-being and whey they were released thanked the Lord for his benevolence. Similarly, when Father Uzhunnalil was abducted in Aden, the entire Universal Church and people of other faiths prayed for his safety and release.
Father Uzhunnalil explained he reached Yemen in 2010 after his Bangalore province assigned him to work in that Islamic country. He had returned to India in 2015 and went back soon despite a government advisory against Indians traveling to Yemen. The Catholic priest said he returned because he was the only one with a priest visa in Yemen then.
Yemen permits the practice of only Islam. However, Catholic priests were allowed to Yemen after Mother Teresa had reached an agreement with the government. In 1973 the Yemeni government invited Mother Teresa to open centers to look after the destitute there. Mother Teresa told the government her organization’s work depended on the Holy Eucharist offered by Catholic priests. He congregation would come only when the government allowed Catholic priests in places where her congregation works.
Father Uzhunnalil narrated how the militant attacked the Aden center.
The priest, who has gained in weight after the release, said he does not know why his captors spared his life. “May be God did not consider me worthy enough to be a martyr like the four MC nuns; or may be God wanted me to stay alive to testify that He is a Living and Loving God.”
He said seven Missionaries of Charity nuns still serve in Yemen. “God has a mission for each one of us,” he added.
Sister Prema thanked Father Uzhunnalil for being with her sisters at their hour of distress. She also commended his desire to go back to Yemen if allowed. The thanksgiving evening ended with the archbishop taking the lead in singing “Oh Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
The priest was abducted on March 4, 2016, and released on September 12, 2017.