Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Jul 16: In preparation for its annual feast, St Lawrence Shrine, Bondel, will hold a nine-day novena, preceded by a special programme at 5.00 pm on Wednesday, July 31 where 'Hore Kanike', a procession carrying the offertory, will be led from Mount Carmel School, Maryhill to St Lawrence Church, Bondel.

The annual festival of St Lawrence Church, Bondel will be held on Saturday, August 10. As preparation time for the feast, a nine-day novena will be held from August 1 to August 9.

The formal inaugural programme scheduled on Thursday, August 1 at 10.00 am. Walter Nandalike, founder, Daijiworld Media Group, will hoist the festival flag. The novenas will be held for different intentions each day. Novena will be held on the first day for the religious people, second day for the sick, the third day for social workers and political leaders, fourth day for protection of environment, fifth day for married couples and families, sixth day for children, seventh day for head of the families, eight day for various prayer groups and its leaders and ninth day will be dedicated for youth. There will flow of faithful who will be served lunch after the morning novenas. The chapel will be open for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6 am to 7 pm on all days. Blessed candles and sacred articles can be found in stalls on all days of the novena.

The message for this year is 'Let us become salt of earth and light of world and renovate the environment’.

The feast Mass on Thursday, August 10 will be held at 10 am. Bishop of Mangaluru Dr Peter Paul Saldanha will be the chief celebrant. On the same day, the concluding Mass of feast will be celebrated by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Mangaluru at 6 pm.

Parish priest Andrew Leo D’Souza along with assistant priests and parish council are leading the preparation of the feast. Thousands of devotees from various parts of Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh are expected for the feast.