Prot.1131/GenSec2017 (3-b-10/CBCI-GC)                                                             12th September, 2017

PRESS RELEASE

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its immense joy on getting the news of the release of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil SDB who has been in Captivity since March 2016. As we thank God for this unique grace bestowed on Fr. Tom and his family and the Salesian Congregation (The Society of Don Bosco) and the Catholic Church in India, we pray for his continued good health and complete recovery to resume active Salesian ministry for God and His people in his Congregation and the Church.

As we express our profound gratitude to God, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India wants to place on record its immense gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Srimati Sushma Swaraj the Minister of External Affairs and the Government of India for persistently and perseveringly working to obtain the release of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil. In different meetings with the Foreign Minister, she assured us that Fr. Tom was safe and that the Government would do everything to get him released. The Prime Minister too had assured us that all would be done to get him released. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis who took personal interest in Fr. Tom’s release efforts and Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia, the Bishop in charge of the Middle East, and the Sultan of Oman, for their untiring efforts, The Rector Major and the Salesian Provincial of Bangalore Province for their patience and strong faith. Fr. Tom’s release gives immense joy to the Catholic Church in India and the Salesian Family and all the people of India and we place on record our gratitude to all for their immense faith in God and persevering prayers that God in his goodness and mercy has heard and answered. We thank in a special way the Sultan of Oman who we now learn from reports played an important role in the release of Fr.Tom.We thank all men and women of good will who stood with us with prayer and encouragement.             

             Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX

   Secretary General, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India