He volunteered to go back to Yemen, if his provincial could not find someone for this mission. He knew the situation and the dangers. He did not want to leave the Sisters alone and deprived of the sacraments.
The terrorists who lied to get into the home for the aged killed four Missionaries of Charity and twelve others. Tom heard the shots. He knew that he could be the next to be killed.
He was then shoved into the boot of a car and driven to where he did not know. His captors tied his hands and legs, but did not torture him. Tom says he was not ill-treated. He was given food, and, when his health deteriorated, even medicine.
In fact, Tom has no angry words for his captors.
He does not lament his eighteen months in captivity, nor say how hard it must have been to spend day after empty day with no company, nothing to do, and totally unsure of what would happen next.
In the meantime, rumours circulated that he would be killed. One message circulating on WhatsApp said he was going to be crucified on Good Friday.
We are not sure who were involved in his eventual release. The Vatican, Yes. The Sultan of Oman, yes. Who else, and how? We do not know.
The Salesian Congregation had made it clear that it did not pay any ransom for his release.
We have pictures of a white-bearded Tom getting down from a plane in Oman, and then in a large room somewhere (said to be in Oman). In later pictures we see him clean-shaven and dressed in trousers and shirt, seated next to the Sultan of Oman.
He was then flown to the Ciampino airport in Rome, and taken to the Vatican.
He asked to say Mass, something he had not been able to do since his abduction. All he could do in his captivity was to repeat the words of the Mass in his heart every day. He was asked to wait until after his first medical tests. He then asked to make his Confession.
In the touching encounter with the Pope, we see Tom kneeling before him, then prostrate to kiss his feet. Pope Francis, visibly moved, lifts him up, blesses Tom, and then—in a truly surprising gesture—kisses the hand of the priest. Cardinal Oswald Gracias and some Salesians are present.
He stays in the Salesian Community at the Vatican, both to regain his health and to get a new passport.
So many have prayed for you, Tom. So many of us have been concerned. Leaders in the church and in the Salesian congregation have contacted governments and anyone else who might know your whereabouts and who would help to have you released.
You are back with us now as a free man, deeply grateful to God, to Mother Mary, to St. John Bosco, and to all who helped bring about your release. You said that this experience has made you “200 percent closer to God.” Great! May the same Love sustain you always, inspire you constantly and make your life and ministry fruitful.
You must have undergone more anguish and uncertainty than you say, faced your mortality and total dependence on God very, very intensely, and come out of this ordeal a truer priest, a more God-centred religious and more convinced of God’s marvellous guidance.
Pray for us now, as we have been doing for you these eighteen months.
Be a shining and joyful witness to God’s love and witness wherever you are, whatever the circumstances. The same God who accompanied you from a day of terror through months of uncertainty to a joyful liberation and welcome, will guide every step you take. In His loving heart, there is always a place for you—and for each of us. Welcome home, Tom!
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FR TOM UZHUNNALIL, S.D.B.
I want to say a special word of thanks to Fr Harris Pakkam SDB, who belongs to the Salesian Community at the Vatican, for interviewing Fr. Tom for MAGNET.–Editor
- What made you stay on in Yemen, knowing the danger?
As you Know, I had already returned to India, and had almost shifted my things and luggage also to my new place of assignment, at Kristu Jyothi College, Bangalore, as administrator. I had a small plan to make a short visit back to Yemen, to introduce the new people and make one or two arrangements and return back in a month’s time. When I met my Provincial in Bangalore to greet him for Easter, without any pre-meditation I told him that if he was able to find some one for Kristu Jyothi, I was ready to go back to work in Yemen. He asked me if my family members would consent, and I told him that my parents were no more and that my brothers and sisters would not object to it. Immediately, arrangements were made for me to go to Abu Dhabi, from there to Djibouti and from there to enter Aden by ship or any other means. I said that since there was no one else, I should be present to the sisters working there and see to all their sacramental needs, though the condition was dangerous. As you know, it was a time of war, and all Indian citizens in Yemen were brought back by ship and plane, for safety reasons. This included the Salesian Fathers, except Fr. M.K. George, who remained in Thais, Yemen.
- What was your first reaction on being kidnapped?
It was Friday, 5th of March 2016. I came out, hearing some gun shots. As soon as one of the captors saw me, he asked my identity. I told them that I was an Indian. They told me to sit in a chair by the side of the security room. I saw the death of the four sisters, the gardener, the security man and a boy. I already said the prayer, “Jesus Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul…” As they led me, I thought I was the next one to be shot. But they forced me into the boot of the car. I was unaware of what could happen to me. Seeing the bloodshed and the killings was such a hard and painful experience—the kind of experience we never think of facing. I had no fear of death, but I faced tremendous uncertainty. What was going to happen to me?
- How were you treated?
I should be honest that they did not torture me or ill-treat me. In the beginning, they tied my hands and legs for some time and then they did not do that. I was in captivity and I could not go out and I did not know where I was kept, because I was shifted from one place to another blindfolded. Whenever the captors came, I had to cover my eyes and not look at them. They gave me food three times, and my basic needs were met. They also gave me medicine when I was a little sick once or twice. They reassured me that I was safe.
- Who held you?
I would not be able to precisely tell which group held me. They were some terrorist groups, and they wanted a huge ransom. The first group that kidnapped me handed me to another group. I was 
shifted to four places at different periods of time for my safety. Sometimes they made videos for their appeal, and they pretended to harm me and torture me, with some noise in the background, but it was only to film such videos. I had no communication at all for the past eighteen months from the outside world. Those people spoke only in Arabic and they did not understand English; neither did I understand Arabic.
- What kept you going? What gave you the strength to stay sane and to remain hopeful?
From the time they took me, I was only praying to the Lord to let me know His will for me, and give me the strength to accept it with faith, courage and determination. The words of Jesus in the Gospel, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7) were re-echoing in my heart and mind. Prayer was my only strength. I always prayed, “Lord, keep me sane and healthy, so that I should not fall sick and create difficulties for any one.” I was very sure that there would be lot of people praying for me.
- Who are the people you recall with special gratitude?
Definitely God almighty, our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John Bosco are uppermost. I do not have any names, but I remember with gratitude each and every single person whom God used during this period of captivity to pray for me, in different parts of the world, and even from different religions.
- Has this whole experience brought you closer to God? How?
This experience has brought me two hundred times closer to God. I had really trust in God and I was sure He had plans for me and He would answer my prayers. Sometimes, I used to pray for something and it used to happen through my captors, in the way they provided for me and treated me. For example, during the month of Ramadan they used to fast, but they gave me meals all three times during the day. My whole day was dedicated for prayer, and I used to sing, reflect and say as many prayers as possible, also remembering to pray for as many people as I could remember.
- What has this whole episode taught you?
God has a plan and mission for each one of us, and to complete that mission He permits certain events to happen, people to meet and all this is for our own sanctification and for the sanctification of others. I went to Yemen to be present to the Sisters to the very end. These Sisters became martyrs for Christ and are now praying for me in heaven. God wanted me also to pray for my captors and for their conversion and peace in the world. Through this episode, He wants me to be His living testimony in today’s world.
- What were the most difficult moments during this period of captivity?
I could not go out anywhere and I was confined to a small room that had ventilation. I had a small sponge-like mattress on which I used to sit and sleep. My only fear was that I should not land up in any situation of ill-health, where it would become difficult for people around me to take care of me. I had fever twice and it was only for a day or so. One day, I had a shoulder pain and I could not lift my arm and I was feeling that pain. It went away after two days. I was thinking of Jesus with his arms outstretched on the cross and how painful it would have been for him.
- Anything else you like to share with the religious of India?
I believe obedience to God’s will and blessings of superiors will not be in vain. Without any pre-meditation, God prompted me to re-enter Yemen, and God was there as a guarantee for me, even in the most crucial situations.
If we offer ourselves to God’s mission without any selfish motives, trusting in him wholeheartedly, He will make sure that His will is accomplished.
To subscribe to the magazine Contact Us
