OLLUR, India (UCAN) -- A Catholic Church official in Kerala state, southern India, says Salesian Father Johnson Prakash Moyalan's "brave death" in Nepal will produce many missioners.

Father Paul Thelakat, spokesperson for the Syro-Malabar Church, an Oriental Catholic rite, expressed shock and dismay over Father Moyalan's murder on July 1 in Sirsiya town, southeastern Nepal.

Speaking with UCA News on July 2, he said it was "very sad and disturbing" that a priest who had "dedicated his life to the people of Nepal had to die in such a brutal manner."

Father Thelakat asserted, however, that whatever the assailants' motive, the murder will not frighten missioners from entering new mission fields or abandoning the duty to preach the Gospel. He predicted Father Moyalan's life and "brave death" would inspire hundreds of new missioners. "We pray and entrust his soul to God," he added.

People have flocked to Ollur, the slain missioner's native village in Kerala, to offer condolences to his family members. The village is in Trichur district, 2,570 kilometers south of New Delhi.

On July 2, St. Raphael's Forane Church in the village conducted a requiem Mass and special prayers for the slain missioner. Hundreds of parishioners and family members attended.

"I can't believe this news. He was a dedicated priest who cared for the poor," George Moyalan, the slain missioner's elder brother, told UCA News on July 1. He said the family received the information about the murder that morning at 5 a.m.

"He never bothered about his safety. The last time he visited us was to bless my son's marriage this February. He stayed with us for two weeks," the brother said, fighting back tears. "All our family members are in utter shock. I pray to God to give us strength to bear this agony."

The 64-year-old retired government worker said the family wanted to bring the slain missioner's body to his native village, but the Salesians did not agree to this. He said he, four other brothers and a sister would travel to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), 2,350 kilometers northeast of their village, to attend the funeral scheduled for July 4.

Father Moyalan belonged to the Salesian Calcutta province. In 1996, he began working in Nepal, where he was known as Father John Prakash.

Rappai Kurian told UCA News he had never feared for his elder brother's safety. "He trusted the villagers so much. They also loved him," he added.

Kurian recalled his priest-brother coming home for holidays in 2006 with some villagers from his mission station. "My brother lived and worked like one of them. When they were here, we experienced their mutual affection and respect," Kurian said, adding that his family would take a long time to get over its sorrow.

Raphael Francis, a cousin, said the slain priest used to visit all family members whenever he came for holidays. According to him, Father Moyalan was eager to help the poor and maintained close relations with all in the village. He noted that the Moyalan family, which has more than 300 members in Ollur, had only one priest.

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