Father Shaji, administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Sinton was greeting parishioners after the July 4 Mass. The parishioners were so happy to have Father Shaji back home with them. The Saturday evening Mass was the first Mass offered by Father Shaji in Our Lady of Guadalupe church since he was attacked there 2 months ago.

"Father Shaji is our walking miracle. He is a miracle," proclaimed Carmel Nino, a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sinton.

On the Fourth of July, Father Shaji Varghese returned home for the first time to his parish family since surviving a brutal attack on May 8.

The Saturday evening vigil Mass was the first Mass Father Shaji had offered in Our Lady of Guadalupe church since his return.

In welcoming the parishioners to Mass, Father Shaji spoke about his faith in God saying, "I am standing in front of the altar of God because of God's goodness."

Father Shaji told the congregation, "God has touched me through our Blessed Mother and has healed me physically. It has taken and will take longer for me to regain my confidence. In my mind, I wanted to serve God again. This is a Mass of thankfulness."

About 100 parishioners gathered with Father Shaji on the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time as he offered the Mass in gratitude for the blessings God has bestowed upon the United States, its people and his continued recovery.

Father Shaji' homily reminded the congregation about how fortunate that "true Catholics may practice their faith every day" in the United States.

"The United States is a land of opportunity. God, through his magnanimity, has given us the gifts of opportunity and freedom. We must give thanks to the Lord for our country and for Jesus."

Father Shaji continued his homily by urging everyone to have "faith and to look for the good in others."

"Jesus always looked for the good in others. He gave them the chance to experience the love of God. It is our lack of faith which hinders us from experiencing God."

In closing his homily, Father Shaji urged the faithful, "we must look to Jesus with faith and hope."

After the conclusion of the Mass, Father Shaji thanked his parish family "for your sincere prayers. You are my family. I offered all of my pains and agonies to the Lord in the name of my family. It is because of the kindness of God and your prayers that I am alive."

The parishioners honored Father Shaji with a surprise welcome home party immediately following the Mass.

Parishioners Guadalupe and Irma Aguilar were joyful about the return of their priest.

"It is wonderful. He is back home after two months. Father Antony Varghese took good care of us, but is wonderful to have Father Shaji home," declared Irma Aguilar.

"We thank God every day that Father Shaji survived the attack. It could have been a real tragedy. We must continue to ask the Lord to guide us and protect us," said Guadalupe.

Among the many grateful well wishers for Father Shaji safe recovery and return was Father Philip Panackal, pastor at Our Lady of Refuge in Refugio.

At the time of Father Shaji's assault and hospitalization, Father Philip was vacationing in India.

"I was able to visit with Father Shaji's mother and family. I was able to reassure her that he was going to be okay His mother and family really love this parish, the people and this diocese. Father Shaji's mother stated that these parishioners have become wonderful friends and moms and dads to my son."

Clearly overwhelmed and very happy about being back amongst his parishioners, Father Shaji told them, "I did not arrive home until 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. Last night in London, I told the airlines to just get me anywhere in the United States. They sent me to New York City. I spent the night there. This morning I flew to Dallas and then to Corpus Christi. I was very excited about offering Mass today. Your sincere prayers gave me life again. I thank the Lord for giving me a second chance."

Parishioner Carmel Nino and her daughter Christine Nino visited Father Shaji "every day while he was in the hospital."

"He looked so bad on the first day. But by the second day, his face was less swollen, and he was blessing us from the other side of the glass window," said Carmel Nino.

Christine Nino added, "When he was in the hospital, I promised him I would take him out for ice cream when he came home. Father Shaji asked me today when he was going to get his ice cream. Father Shaji is a miracle."