Indian priest returns to work one week after stabbing at church

Father Tomy Kalathoor Mathew, the Indian priest who was stabbed at a Melbourne church last week has returned to the Parish where he was attack after being treated. In spite of being racially abused before being stabbed by the offender, Father Mathew told SBS Malayalam Radio, “Australia is a true welcoming country and never a racist country.”

Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

Father Tomy Kalathoor Mathew, an Australian-based Indian-born priest was stabbed in the shoulder at St Matthew's Parish at Fawkner in Melbourne on March 19, after being racially abused. The incident occurred just before the Italian mass on Sunday at the foyer of the church.

St Matthew's Parish, Fawkner Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

The offender, a 72-year-old Italian man who was on the run after the incident was arrested by the Victoria police on the same night. He was charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury. Speaking to SBS Malayalam, Father Tomy, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, explains how the incident unfolded. 

Listen to  Father Tomy's full interview (in English) with SBS Malayalam below:

Fr Tomy at hospital for the treatment of his wounds Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

According to Father Tomy, the offender, who was not a regular visitor to the church, asked other parishioners for the Indian priest while he was away for holidays in January.  “However, I never expected this move from him,” says Fr Tomy.  

He was also threatened by the same offender a week before he was stabbed.

When asked about the motive behind the attack, Father Tomy replied, “I came to know from the police that this man is mentally ill and he has some kind of hallucination that Indians are either Hindu or Muslim and hence it is inappropriate for a non-Christian to celebrate the mass."

Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

“When I go back to church, I am not concerned about such happenings in future."

Fr Tomy returns to his Parish Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

"I always believe Australia is not a racist country. It is a true welcoming multicultural country."

The priest, who arrived in Australia in 2012 and has never experienced any sort of racial abuse or attack earlier says, “When I go back to church, I am not concerned about such happenings in future."

"I always believe Australia is not a racist country. It is a true welcoming multicultural country. This was how I used to tell my friends and family back in India who were concerned about the racism in Australia. I would love to believe the same even now.”

Fr Tomy at Fawkner church Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

Priest returns to the Parish

Bearing in mind these positive thoughts, Father Tomy returned back to the parish on Saturday. He celebrated mass on Sunday with whole-hearted support from his parishioners.  

He tells SBS Malayalam, “I'm grateful to God for having made this incident for promoting the virtue of forgiveness and God's ever loving care."

"It was truly the work of a mentally sick man, who needs our support and sympathy."

"It was truly the work of a mentally sick man, who needs our support and sympathy."

"We should pray for such people so that they may not cause harm to others, and they may be able to get the light of truth - That is my prayer for him."

"We must be lovers of humanity in all its diversity, which is very significant in a nation like Australia where we are all from different origins."

"I'm back in the Parish in very good spirit and all is good with me."

"We must be lovers of humanity in all its diversity."

Fr Tomy with his parishioners Source: Fr Tomy Kalathoor Mathew

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