Fr. Mathew Uzhunnalil SDB passes away

24 March, 2015 (Abu Dhabi).

Fr. Mathew Uzhunnalil SDB passed away in the evening of Saturday 21 March 2015 at Aluva, Kerala, India. The Salesian missionary had served the Vicariate from 1990 as a priest in Yemen. During his tenure in Yemen, Fr. Mathew was a great source of strength and support to his brother priests, the Missionaries of Charity Sisters and the faithful in Yemen who have faced trying times due to the fluctuating political situation in the country.

Fr. Mathew was born on 30 March 1926 and after his ordination in 1960 worked as a missionary in several parts of North East India for 18 years. For the next 7 years (1979-1985), he served the Bangalore province as Economer. He served as Rector in Mattul and Kottiyam and then moved to join the salesian fathers in Yemen. He was a parish priest in Aden from 1990 till 2007. During this time, Fr. Mathew greatly encouraged the faithful and his presence and contribution to the Catholic Community in Yemen has left deep memories. Fr. Mathew was fearless in his work in Yemen in the face of many trials. During this time he won the respect of all. In 2007 Fr. Mathew came back to Bangalore to be a confessor at Kristy Jyoti College. Since November 2013 he was at the Senior Salesians Home in Aluva.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia gratefully remembers his contribution and the Bishop and the faithful express their gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Fr. Mathew Uzhunnalil.