It was an emotional home coming for Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, his first ever return to the picturesque village of Ramapuram after his release from his abductors last month.
He was welcomed into the Bishop’s House at Pala by none other than Mar Joseph Pallickaparambil Bishop emeritus of the diocese who had ordained tom Uzhunnalil into his priesthood.
“The reception takes me to May 20, 1990. It was on May 21 that I was ordained a priest by Mar Pallickaparambil,” he remembered. “I had always believed that my calling was to serve the elderly and the weak at the Elders Home (in Yemen). After I was abducted I thought my mission was to pray for my captors whereever they took me. But know I know that my calling is to tell the world that there is a God and he is listening to your prayers and who would grant your prayers,” Fr. Uzhunnalil said.
He said he believed that his captors set him free because they were touched by God’s hands, an act made possible by the prayers of people right from Pope Francis to the little children all over the world. “I was told by my relatives that poojas were held for my release at the Ramapuram temple and the Muslim brothers from Erattupetta made special prayers for me.”
Fr. Uzhunnalil, who arrived at the Bishop’s House by 3.30 p.m., was received by a host of leaders from all walks of life.
Senior Kerala Congress leaders including Mr. K.M. Mani and Mr. P.J. Joseph, Congress leader Mr. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, CPI(M) leader Mr. K. J. Thomas and others were present.
He was taken out in an open jeep from the Bishop’s House to his home parish at Ramapuram.
Fr. Uzhunnalil went to the tomb of the Blessed Augustine Thevarparambil (Thevarparambil Kunjachan) inside the chapel. This was followed by the Holy Mass at the Church and a short public meeting where he spoke to his close and dear ones.