【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2017 年 9月 13 日梵蒂岡訊】 ─ 深厚信德的見證：這就是慈幼會士在昨天(9月12日)所看到的：多默神父在禁錮一年半後，最終獲釋，與慈幼會士相聚。
聚會於晚上六時，在梵蒂岡舉行。在場的有慈幼會副總會長謝理達神父（因總會長范達民神父正出訪馬爾他）、梵蒂岡團體及總院的慈幼會士，而最矚目的，就是多默神父的前教授Thomas Anchukandam神父，他在班加羅爾會省當長上時，批准派遣多默神父到也門去。
大家以兄弟友愛之情互相問候：多默神父披上了「龐拿達」（ponnada），是傳統上授予貴賓的服飾，並受到眾兄弟的親切擁抱。對多默神父這位印度籍傳教士而言，他所能做的是不斷說感謝，尤其是感謝天主和聖母。
他第一個請求，就是在梵蒂岡慈幼會士團體的小堂祈禱，並隨後即時舉行彌撒聖祭，但因他需要接受身體檢查，聖祭被迫延遲舉行。縱然如此，在醫務人員來到之前，他請求領受修和聖事，因為他在禁錮期間，顯然不能領受此聖事。
慈幼會士團體為他舉行歡慶晚宴，以傳統印度食品為特色。雖然未能開彌撒，他在晚宴中講述彌撒聖祭；多默神父表示在禁錮期間，他繼續每天神獻彌撒，心中記著彌撒讀經和禮儀各部份，因為手中沒有經書和禮儀用品。
多默神父表現平靜，並樂意回答會士的提問，卻沒有進入種種細節。他確認在亞丁仁愛傳教女修會團體小堂內，遭到綁架。之後，他從沒遭虐待，在他體重急降後，綁架者甚至開始向他提供所需的糖尿病治療。
然而，在禁錮期間，他一直身穿同一件衣服，他與操阿拉伯語的綁架者，以一點點英語溝通；期間他曾轉換地點兩三次，但每次移送時，總是遭蒙著眼睛。
這位傳教士憶述在2016年3月3日晚上，即屠殺事件前一天晚上：「我從沒想到會被殺。」當晚，亞丁仁愛傳教女修會會院院長，在評論修會會士身處戰事區域的危險境地時這樣說，眾人一同為基督殉道，會是一件美好的事。然而她們當中最年輕的一位，是襲擊後的倖存生還者，這樣回答：「我要為基督而活。」
慈幼會決定，暫時安排多默神父居住在梵蒂岡慈幼會士團體中，並認為這是最合適的地方，確保他得到適當照料，使能得以康復。
Fr Tom Uzhunnalil finally among confreres, in St. Peter shadow
(ANS – Vatican –Vatican City, 13 September 2017) – A testimony of impressive faith: that is what the Salesians saw yesterday, 12 September, on meeting Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, finally liberated after being imprisoned for a year and a half.
The meeting began around 6 PM in the Vatican. Present: the Rector Major’s Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda, as the Rector Major was still engaged in his visit to Malta; Salesians of the Vatican community and the General House; and most notably, Fr Thomas Anchukandam, a former professor of Fr Uzhunnalil, who authorized sending the missionary to Yemen when he was Superior of the Bangalore Province.
The greeting was immediately fraternal: Fr Uzhunnalil was honored with the “ponnada”, the dress traditionally consigned to special guests of honor, and he received the emotional embrace of all those present. For his part, the Indian missionary did not nothing but repeat words of thanks, first of all to God and the Madonna.
One of his first requests was to pray in the chapel of the Salesian community in the Vatican. He also wanted to celebrate Mass immediately after, but due to necessary medical examinations he was forced to postpone the fulfillment of his wish. Nevertheless, before the arrival of the medical staff, he asked to be confessed, since this had obviously not been possible throughout his time in prison.
Different, instead, the discourse for the Eucharist; during the festive evening offered him by the Salesian community, featuring traditional Indian foods, Fr Uzhunnalil said that throughout his time as hostage he continued to spiritually celebrate Mass every day, remembering by heart the readings and the parts of the Mass, since he did not have liturgical texts or species with which to celebrate.
For his part, Fr Uzhunnalil appeared calm and open to questions; without going into details he answered the questions of his confreres. He confirmed he was in the chapel of the community of the Missionaries of Charity of Aden when the assailants kidnapped him. After being kidnapped, Fr Uzhunnalil said he was never mistreated and that following his rapid weight loss, his kidnappers had even begun to provide him with the medication he needed for his diabetes.
Throughout the period of imprisonment, however, he wore the same clothes; with his kidnappers – who spoke Arabic – he communicated with a bit of English; and during his imprisonment he was transferred two or three times, but always blindfolded.
“I never thought I could be killed,” said the missionary who also recalled an episode on March 3, 2016, the night before the massacre: the Director of the Missionaries of Charity house of Aden, commenting on the difficult situation in which the religious found themselves in the war zone, had said it would have been nice to be martyred all together for Christ. But the youngest of the religious – who then survived the attack – replied: “I want to live for Christ.”
Fr Uzhunnalil is currently being hosted in the Salesian community of the Vatican. The Salesian Congregation has taken such a decision by considering it the most suitable place to ensure his care and allow him full recovery.