SDB in News

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
Extra Form
source http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/photo-fr-tom-uzhunallil-feared-captive-yemen-emerges-family-relieved-he-alive-46803
The photo shows the once clean-shaven priest, now looking weary and tired, with a long beard.
TNM Staff| Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 10:14

Months after he was feared abducted by ISIS or some such terror group in Yemen, a picture of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest who hails from Kerala has been posted on Facebook.

Though the priest had gone missing in March this year, the government had inisisted that he was safe.

While it is unclear as to who posted the photo on Facebook, the status claims that an 'Entreaty' or plea would be uploaded soon.

The photo shows the once clean-shaven priest, now looking weary and tired, with a long beard.

Advocate, Augustine, his relative told TNM, "Many people in the family have checked the picture and feel it is father Uzhunnalil's. This is the first time such a picture has come. The only solace is that we know he is alive."

Augustine also said that the government had told them it was unsure, as to who to hold talks with in Yemen.

"There is no government there and so our government is finding it tough to hold talks. We don't believe he has been taken away by Islamic State, but perhaps by a smaller group. The caption on the picture says his plea would be posted soon, waiting for that," he added.

Tom Uzhunnalil had gone missing in Yemen after the Islamic State militant group attacked a care home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

Gunmen had stormed the refuge for the elderly earlier in April and killed a Yemeni guard before tying up and shooting 15 other employees.

Four foreign nuns, including an Indian, working as nurses were among those killed. 

Father Tom was captured from the southern Yemeni city of Aden.

Following reports that the priest was dead, Father Gyanprakash Topno, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), along with a five-member delegation, met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who strongly refuted reports that the priest was not alive.

"Father Tom is safe and efforts are on for his release as early as possible," Topno said, quoting the minister who also told the delegation that the "government will facilitate the priest's safe return to India".

  • ?
    anonymous 2016.07.22 19:47

    Tuesday 19th July a picture of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil has been posted on Facebook. Fr Tom had been abducted on March 4th in Aden, in Yemen.


    We have consulted the Provincial Secretary of the Salesian Province of Bangalore, who is the official spokesperson of the Province, and the office of Mons. Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, in Abu Dhabi. According to their own information, there are no news or further developments about the situation of Fr Tom. In case anything new will occur Mons. Hinder will promptly notify it.


    We do not know who is behind the Facebook page with the image of Fr Tom, which presently has been cleared of all its contents. It is not sure even if that picture was authentic; the Provincial Secretary, after consulting his confreres in the Province, has doubts about the authenticity of that picture.


    The appearing of that photograph, while raises concern about the unknown situation of Fr Tom, is gathering again public attention on this sad event, after some weeks of silence the media. Let us keep our conscience alert about the situation of persecuted Christians is many countries and particularly about Fr Thomas, with the remembrance in prayer and keeping active those initiative still possible, aimed to get information and re-establish a contact.


    The Salesian Congregation keeps following the unfolding of the situation and carries on its commitment to be close to the family of Fr Tom and to collaborate with the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia and with the Indian Government.


    Fr Francesco Cereda

    Vicar of the Rector Major


    http://sdb.org/en/vicar-rector-major/1610-rm-vicar-documents/4853-rmg-communique-about-fr-tom-uzhunnalil



  1. Myanmar - Mandalay Street Children Outreach

    Mandalay: As part of an an outreach program, Salesian Father Peter Myo Khin and his co-workers go to railway stations and bus terminals to help boys living on the streets of Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar. Most of the boys the...
    Date2017.03.16 Views790
    Read More
  2. Wake Up Call for Peace in Myanmar 2017

    Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - "Myanmar is going through one of the most harrowing moments of its history. The people of Burma are deeply saddened. Myanmar needs the attention of the world in order to strengthen its fragile path of democracy": say...
    Date2017.02.08 Views816
    Read More
  3. Don Bosco's Tenderness - Pope Francis

    Like St. John Bosco before him,  Francis calls the young to lead a ‘revolution of tenderness’ Don Bosco-Pope Francis 2017.docx Francis-Accompagnamento spirituale.docx This January 31, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. John ...
    Date2017.01.31 Views1254
    Read More
  4. Myanmar - Namtu - Civil war victims sheltered by SDB parish

    (ANS – Namtu) – “It is urgent to put an end to the wars that still trouble Myanmar and to make 2017 the year of peace”. This, a few weeks ago, was the wish of Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, with regard to his home...
    Date2017.01.25 Views2934
    Read More
  5. Stop all wars! Card Charles Bo - Myanmar

    Yangon (Agenzia Fides)   "It is time to join - all religions, all ethnic groups - to truly make 2017 the Year of Peace. Peace is possible through justice. Peace is possible through negotiations. We urge all religions to observe the day of 1...
    Date2016.12.17 Views738
    Read More
  6. Cebu - Don Bosco Soccer

    CEBU DON BOSCO nips ATENEO Gyle Ventolero’s early goal was all Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) needed yesterday to beat fierce rival, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), and remain unbeaten in the secondary division of the C...
    Date2016.10.13 Views1201
    Read More
  7. No Image

    Joseph Zen, the Hong Kong cardinal standing up to Beijing

    (Jennifer Thompson) He may be a human rights champion but the 84-year-old lives a simple life in a Catholic community — and likes 1970s pop -- Having decided as a young boy to dedicate his life to the Catholic Church, Joseph Zen knew he wou...
    Date2016.09.09 Views1317
    Read More
  8. China Church in Communion with the Universal Church

    http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/node/3362 The communion of the Church in China with the universal Church John Cardinal Tong • Bishop of Hong Kong • 31 July 2016 Prologue The Catholic Church is founded by Christ and transmitted through the ap...
    Date2016.08.08 Views4358
    Read More
  9. No Image

    Indian Salesian priest’s abductors captured

    Indian Salesian priest’s abductors captured Published on: 7:42 pm, July 29, 2016 Story By: mattersindia.com Fr. Tom Kochi; Three terrorists, who belong to the gang that abducted Keralite priest Tom Uzhunnalil and killed 16 people at an old-a...
    Date2016.07.30 Views549
    Read More
  10. AUL-Fr. Bill Edwards Life&Letters

    A new book about a high-volume writer of letters has just been publicly released. The book titled, “G’Day Cobber, Dare to be a Saint: The Life and Letters of Fr. Bill Edwards SDB”, was authored by Father Stephen Ardill, a priest of the dioc...
    Date2016.07.21 Views696
    Read More
  11. Photo of Fr Tom Uzhunalil feared captive in Yemen emerges, family relieved he is alive

    The photo shows the once clean-shaven priest, now looking weary and tired, with a long beard. TNM Staff| Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 10:14 Months after he was feared abducted by ISIS or some such terror group in Yemen, a picture of Father Tom...
    Date2016.07.20 Views859
    Read More
  12. AUL - Jesus impact on society (Moloney)

    By Caroline Smith This paper examines the character of Christ and how He fitted into the Jewish tradition of His time. One point underlined in the paper was Jesus’ decision to interact with the poor, and with those whom religious leaders de...
    Date2016.07.16 Views746
    Read More
  13. Cebu - Don Bosco Footbal team

    From the Cebu newspaper (July 5, 2016)
    Date2016.07.05 Views1183
    Read More
  14. Myanmar-Mercy means Listening - card Bo

    ASIA/MYANMAR - Archbishop Bo: "Communicating mercy means listening to our people"Tuesday, 14 June 2016human rights   religious minorities   jubilee of mercy   justice   peace   Facebook Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - "We need to listen to our peop...
    Date2016.06.15 Views613
    Read More
  15. Salesian serving Pakistan Youth

    (ANS – Lahore) – Salesians in Lahore at present accompany 450 young people in their educational journey, from elementary to high school and to professional formation. The person in charge of this is Fr. Pietro Zago, an Italian Salesian miss...
    Date2016.06.11 Views979
    Read More
  16. ProTech2 - FIAT and SALESIANS 2016

    FIAT E SALESIANI INSIEME PER CREARE LAVORO E DIGNITÀ 07/06/2016 Presentati a Torino i risultati di "TechPro2", il programma per la creazione di figure professionali d’officina altamente specializzate, nato dalla collaborazione tra i Salesian...
    Date2016.06.09 Views1192
    Read More
  17. Timor Leste - Faith Education is the first priority

    THE FAITH IS A LIFE _ LONG PROCESS of GROWTH A procession celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi is a way of helping the predominantly Catholic population of Timor-Leste preserve their faith in the face of challenges brought on by globaliza...
    Date2016.06.01 Views599
    Read More
  18. Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai encourages Chinese Catholics to be brave

    Vatican official celebrates prayer day for China churchArchbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai encourages Chinese Catholics to be brave and walk the path of truth and charity Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, center, celebrates Mass at St Jude's Church in ...
    Date2016.05.26 Views1286
    Read More
  19. Mothers Day faith story

    Sydney archdiocesan news paper: THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY Mr. Matt is the Youth Minister in the Salesian parish of St John Bosco - Engadine, Sydney AUL-Engadine twins.docx  - for download May 2016 - Matt Humpreys, Engadine St.John Bosco Youth Mini...
    Date2016.05.15 Views699
    Read More
  20. Cardinal Zen - petition to Pope Francis

    Hong Kong, 26 April Leading a prayer service in front of China's Hong Kong liaison office, retired Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong called on Beijing to end the persecution of Christians and allow religious freedom. "Facing all this...
    Date2016.04.26 Views495
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next
/ 5