At candle-light march for abducted priest: Archbishop presses for government intervention

Bengaluru, march.4: Where is Fr. Tom ???-India wants to know’ read several placards  at a gathering of over 1,000 priests, nuns and lay Catholics from all across Bengaluru 6 pm on 4th March 2017 at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral to mark the first anniversary of the abduction of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil  (60) in Yemen.  The meet was organized to pray for Fr. Tom’s release from captivity. The priest was abducted from a Missionaries of Charity House in Yemen that also left 4 nuns killed in the attack.  The United Nations holds that over 6000 people have died ever since the civil-war broke out in 2015.     

The Solidarity marked by the Holy Mass and a candle-light procession presided by Archbishop Dr. Bernard Moras was jointly organized by the Conference of Religious in India (CRI), Archdiocese of Bangalore, Inter-congregational Effort for Development and several partners.

Bishop Antony Kariyil of Mandya in his sermon said "Suffering is part of human existence. The first sound of a new born is the sound of crying and we when we die, we leave others to crying.  Crying is a symbol of suffering”.

Bishop Kariyil, drawing reference to the suffering Fr. Tom must be going through said “Jesus preached values of poverty, mercy and love for the enemy he said adding “The world does not accept these values and so work against our pastoral work especially in our Education, Health and other pastoral related activities”.

The Bishop referred to the gruesome killing of Graham Staines 25 years ago, the killing of people in Kandhamal 15 years ago and also the death of Rani Maria saying yet nothing has deterred people from following Christ.

Archbishop Dr.Bernard Moras who addressed the released a Memorandum jointly-signed by participating organizations addressed the gathering and lead the candle-light procession. In his message, the Prelate said “The whole Church is pained at the captivity of Fr. Tom and his suffering. The only consolation we heard from the Government of India but we press for speedy action in rescuing him from his abductors.  This is a season of lent let us pray more fervently for the safe release of Fr. Tom and also for the conversion of his abductors as our Faith calls us to Pray for those who persecute us”. 

The Archbishop released the memorandum addressed to the President and Prime Minister of India and to The Chief Minister of Karnataka State including the Home Minister.    

A slide-presentation the events that surrounded the work of Fr. Tom and his consequent abduction was presented to the gathering.