Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (WD/KR)
Karkala, Jan 30: The five-day annual feast of St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur, concluded here in a grand manner on Thursday, January 30.
Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop, diocese of Mangaluru, presided over the festive Eucharistic celebration. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, Udupi Diocese, Fr Joswey Fernandes, dean, Karkala deanery, Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Melwyn Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest and other priests from the diocese where the co- celebrants of the festive mass. The feast of Our Lady of Guidance was also celebrated here.
The theme of the feast this year was, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Enormous number of devotees gathered for the Eucharistic Celebration on the final day of the festivity.
Giving the instance of Sister Rani Maria in his homily, Mangaluru bishop said, “Sister Rani Maria was stabbed to death by Samandar Singh for her service towards the people. But her family forgave Samandar Singh and became a best example for forgiveness. The theme of the feast ‘Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father’ also calls us to do the same. We are meditating on this theme since five days. Christ had the ability to do everything on his own but he chose apostles to for his service and they bought glory to God.”
“God’s goodness has no end like the sun rays which gives brightness to everyone. God works in different ways. We see this in St Lawrence. He was a true follower of God who helped the poor and needy. He was called father of poor and needy. We need to follow his footsteps. No one of us is same and so are deeds. To strengthen our faith, we need to be good and help others the way we can. Today we are doubtful about everything. There is lot of confusion in deciding everything in our life. So let us come out of the confusion we have in us and seek the blessings of God and St Lawrence,” he said.
Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, bishop emeritus, diocese of Mangaluru, Dr Anthony Swamy Thomasappa, bishop, Diocese of Chikkamagaluru, Dr Geevarghese Makarios Kalayil, bishop, diocese of Puttur (Syro-Malankara), Dr Francis Serrao, bishop, Diocese of Shimoga, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi, Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, diocese of Belthanady (Syro - Malabar), Dr Peter Paul Saldhana, bishop, diocese of Mangalore had celebrated the festive mass during 5 day festival. While nearly 41 priests celebrated mass in Kannada and Konkani, around 350 priests from various congregations rendered their service to lacs of devotees through the practice of 'confession'.
Fr George D’souza, rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica thanked each and every one 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 Melwyn Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest, other priests, deacons, nuns and the St Lawrence Basilica committee. He further thanked vice president John D’Silva and Leena D'Silva, secretary of the parish pastoral council, Richard Pinto, co-ordinator of 18 commissions and other members of the council, the church choir, and choir groups from different parishes of the diocese, organisations of the parish and various committee members of the festival.
He extended his gratitude to the MLA of Karkala, Sunil Kumar, president, vice president, PDO of Nitte gram panchayat, N Vishnuvardhan, 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 and appreciated his service. He also thanked Fr Melwyn Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest, for his service at the Basilica. He appreciated the selfless service of the parishioners towards the Basilica.