Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (WD/KR)

Karkala, Jan 28: Attur Feast 2021 made for a remarkable spiritual and devotional feast. Attur pilgrim is for saint devotees who walked into the holy place in peace and received blessings. Due to pandemic a lot of changes were put in place so as to control the huge crowd. This year unlike previous years instead of the feast being for five days, novena and the feast were celebrated together within 11 days starting from January 18 - January 28.

On the 11th day of the celebrations on Thursday, January 28 Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop, diocese of Mangaluru, presided over the festive Eucharistic celebration. While Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Melwyn Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest and other priests from the diocese were the co-celebrants of the festive mass.

The feast of Our Lady of Guidance was also celebrated here.

In his homily, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha said, "We see a lot of devotees visiting this place to seek the blessings of St Lawrence. He was a true follower of God. He became the voice of God by helping the poor and needy. We too must be the voice of the needy. One does not need to make big achievements as even the smallest ones can lead us closer to God. Just helping those in need can bring us closer to the almighty. Pope Francis in his letter 'Fratelli Tutti' (We all are brothers and sisters) asks us to treat the people in need as brothers and sisters. In this digital world, people are growing distant from one another. We have many barriers within each other. We need to overcome these barriers and live as one. Coronavirus has taught us many lessons. Only worldly pleasures are not enough but we need to be there to help those in need."

Prior to the Eucharistic celebration 'Kaarlad Kraisther' book was released by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop, diocese of Mangaluru. The book is about the Christians in Karkala, their contributions to the people of Karkala. The book is published in Tulu by Benet G Ammanna and Dr Pius Fidelis Pinto.

Fr George D’Souza, rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica thanked each and everyone for their support in making the 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, vicar general, diocese of Udupi, Fr Melwyn Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest, other priests, deacons, nuns and the St Lawrence Basilica committee. He further thanked vice president Santosh D’Silva and Benedicta secretary of the parish pastoral council, Richard Pinto, co-ordinator of 18 commissions and other members of the council of the pastoral council. The church choir, choir groups from different parishes of the diocese, various organisations of the parish and various committee members of the festival were thanked.

He extended his gratitude to the MLA of Karkala, Sunil Kumar, tahsildar of Karkala, president, vice president, PDO of Nitte gram panchayat, N Vishnuvarndhan, SP of Udupi, Karkala town and rural police personnel, and others for their support in making this festive celebration a grand success.

Nearly 55 Holy Eucharistic celebrations were held during 11 days of the novena and annual celebrations out of which in five, bishops of Udupi, Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Beltangady took part.

Fr Alwyn Sequeira, Koteshwara, Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor diocese of Udupi and parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Udyavara, Fr Ronald Serrao, rector St Joseph Seminary, Mangaluru, Fr Chethan Lobo, PRO of the diocese of Udupi presided over the other Mass on the final day.