Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 09:47 am
Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.
The prayer vigil, confirmed to CNA by the Salesian province of Bangalore, marks 10 months since the priest's abduction during an armed attack on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen.
Bangalore provincial superior Fr. Joyce Thonikuzhiyil requested the 11 Salesian communities of South Asia to mark Jan. 4 as "a day of prayer with an hour of Eucharistic adoration" for the purpose of "intensifying our prayerful efforts" for the safe release of the priest, according to religious news site Matters India.
The day of prayer comes after a video was posted to YouTube Dec. 26 of Fr. Tom personally appealing to Pope Francis, and bishops all over the world, for help.