Fr. Tom Uzhunalill Released

Today is the date when Fr. Tom were taken into captivity 5 years ago. Then the brutal extremist ISIS or similar group murdered four of Mother Teresa´s pious M.C. Sisters, and near ten persons more, during their attack at a care home for elderly in Aden (during political turmoil as raging war there). This is a story that comes close to me. When Fr. Tom gave a speech in a parish of northern Stockholm well after his release, the last stop after a hectic tour schedule all over Europe, it was a most touching event to hear directly his message of peace and goodwill and humble forgiveness. Yesterday I received a copy of his account, printed in India, from the M.C. Sisters. The victim held alive by the terrorists is a Salesian priest, from a simple farmer family background, raised in a strong ancient Christian culture within the community of many pious families in Kerala, the southernmost region of India, perhaps most famous for its high literacy and peaceful tolerant life. The work he did before going to the dangerous Yemen missions were mostly about hands on projects, helping poor young people go from unemplyment to small scale manufactoring industry works set up by the Salesians themselves. I read the first 60 pages last night and will continue tonight with the 100 pages left, that deals with the time in Yemen and the captivity itself.