Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (WD/KR)
Karkala, Jan 26: The five-day annual feast of St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur here culminated on a grand note on Thursday with Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese, presiding over the concluding Eucharistic celebration. The festival this year revolved around the theme 'Be my witnesses'.
More than 10,000 devotees gathered for the Euacrishtic celebration held on January 26, at 10 am.
Fr Denis D’Sa, PRO of diocese of Udupi, Fr Stephen D’Souza, director, Divya Jyothi, diocese of Udupi, Fr George D’Souza, parish priest and rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Vijay D’Souza, assistant parish priest, and other priests concelebrated the feast mass. The feast of Our Lady of Guidance was also celebrated here.
During the homily, the bishop said, "We are celebrating the annual feast of St Lawrence for the first time after the shrine was declared a Basilica, and are here to offer our prayers and intentions to St Lawrence. May St Lawrence intercede to the Almighty for us. Let us strive to be true witnesses of God."
He recalled the contribution of St Lawrence for the sick and poor, a ray of hope for social outcasts. "The saint saw God in them and become a true witness of God, following the words of Jesus 'whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me'," the bishop said.
"Today’s Gospel states that the Holy Spirit given to us will help us to be witnesses for God. Jesus was a witness for God in his death and resurrection. And enlightened others to be witnesses for the Almighty. The apostles of Jesus were the first to bear witness about Jesus when they proclaimed the word of God. They were firm in their faith , in the midst of torment, and died a martyr's death. Through sacrament of Baptism we too become the disciples of Jesus and it’s our duty to witness God through our words and deeds,” the bishop further added.
Giving the example of St Mother Teresa and St Francis of Assisi, he concluded, "Many Christians have laid their lives for christ and been witnesses to God. Our religion teaches us love, kindness, service and truthfulness. Hence, let us be the salt of the earth and witnesses for God in our deeds."
The queue, to touch the miraclous statue, comprised of two lines and extended almost to the entrance gate of the church .
During the five days of the celebration, five bishops Dr Bernard Moras, archbishop of Bengaluru, Dr Henry D’souza, bishop, diocese of Ballari, Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop, diocese of Beltangady, Dr Aloysius Paul D’souza, bishop, diocese of Mangaluru and Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop, Diocese of Udupi had celebrated the festive mass. Nearly 38 priests celebrated mass in Kannada and Konkani, and about 350 priests from various congregations rendered their service to lakhs of devotees through the practice of 'confession'.
Fr George D’souza, rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica thanked each and everyone for their support in making the five-day feast a glorious and successful one. He also thanked the bishop of Udupi for his cooperation and guidance throughout the year in each and every development work of the Basilica. He thanked Msgr Baptist Menezes, Fr Denis D’Sa, PRO, diocese of Udupi, deacons and the St Lawrence Basilica committee. He further thanked vice president Richard Pinto, and Santhosh D'Silva, secretary of the parish pastoral council, and other members of the council, the church choir, choir groups from different parishes of the diocese, all organisations of the parish and various committee members of the festival. He extended his gratitude to the president, vice president, PDO of Nitte gram panchayat, K T Balakrishna, SP of Udupi, Karkala town and rural police personnel, home guards, primary health centre, Mescom, fire bridge officials and others for their support in making this festive celebration a grand success.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi thanked Fr George D'Souza, rector of the Basilica, for his all service throughout the year. He also thanked Fr Vijay D'Souza, assistant parish priest, for his service at the Basilica. He called to the devotees to remember this miraculous place in their prayers. He appreciated the rector of the Basilica and thanked him for his service towards the place. He also blessed all the devotees for their support.
He further added, the celebrations will conclude with distribution of food for the needy on Friday, January 27.