Richard D'Souza

Kundapur, Feb 16: The feast of St Anthony’s Relic at St Anthony Shrine, Kerekatte near Kundapur was celebrated with fervor and devotion on Monday February 15.

The festive high solemn eucharistic mass concelebrated by the bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo along with the dean of Kallianpur deanery, Fr Stany B Lobo, the Dean of Kundapur deanery, Fr Anil D’Souza and around 22 priests.

In his homily the bishop said that divine mercy is a mystery. Divine mercy is the bridge between God and the people. God has come to meet man. Jesus is the face of God’s mercy. Those who see Jesus will see God Almighty. There is no limit, time and end to the grace of mercy. Divine Mercy is the foundation of the Church. The mercy of Jesus is available to the people especially the poor, the needy, the downtrodden etc. St Anthony also loved the poor and the downtrodden. He attracted the people through his beautiful sermons. He is a great saint who obtained sainthood within one year of his death.

Prior to the mass, candles of honor were distributed to the donors and benefactors. Fr Xavier Pinto rector and director of the Shrine, Kerekatte thanked all concerned at the end of the celebrations.
The bishop also distributed candles of honor to the donors of the Shrine after mass and conducted the novena prayers for St Anthony of Padua.

The bishop delivered a brief festive message to all the devotees of St Anthony towards the end. Thousands of devotees of St Anthony from Udupi diocese and neighboring diocese participated in the festive celebrations of St Anthony.