Prayers were said at Mass in Clara, Co Offaly, yesterday for the safe return of local man Mr John Buckley, who was kidnapped in Ecuador.
The parish priest, Father Martin Burke, has included prayers in his Masses for Mr Buckley since it became known publicly some days ago that he had been kidnapped.
"His family has received no definite word of him," Father Burke said.
Mr Buckley (60) and his driver, Mr Luis Diaz, were abducted three months ago near the village of Sardinas, 60 miles south-east of Quito. Mr Buckley was overseeing the laying of a pipeline through the jungle.
It is understood that his employer, an Argentine oil company called Techint, has paid a ransom of $25,000 to the criminal gang which abducted him, but it failed to secure his release.
Mr Buckley's brother Joe lives in Clara. Members of the family have not commented on the situation.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday it was aware of Mr Buckley's abduction, but did not comment on individual cases.