Daijiworld Media Network-Karkala

Karkala, Jul 29: As St Lawrence Church, Attur will be declared as minor Basilica on August 1, the preparations are going on in full swing, said Fr George D'Souza the director of the shrine on Thursday, July 28.

Fr George revealed the following details during the press meet.

The declaration and offering of St Lawrence’s Pilgrim Church at Attur, Karkal as the Mini Basilica will be held on August, 1 at 10 am in the grand hall in the Church premises. 3 Cardinals, 30 to 40 Bishops, more than 300 Catholic priests, nuns and more than 12 thousand devotees will arrive for the rare celebrations.

12,000 seats are arranged so that all the devotees may offer holy Mass and prayers. All the devotees will be distributed soft drinks after the religious ceremony and meals will be served after the hall programme. 20-25 counters are erected in the Church premises to serve meals to the devotees.

LED TVs of gigantic sizes are kept both in the Church and in the auditoriums. 450 Volunteers will be helping in the Church auditorium.

A welcome and Inquiry counter will be opened near the main entrance to provide suitable guidance to the devotees and others. Ambulance facility is provided near the entrance of the Church to help in emergency situations. ASP Sumana who has the knowledge of the area will be in charge of law and order.

Two spacious school grounds will be used for parking of vehicles. Provision for parking of vehicles of VIPs, media and priests is made in St Lawrence Higher Primary school ground. No Vehicles will be allowed in the Church premises. 40 Home Guards and 40 Volunteers will serve in the parking places.

The devotees in the parking places will be guided and directed through loud speakers..Many toilets are erected for physical needs. Newly constructed toilets are closed. All the toilets near Church stall, those on the left of Souhardha Bhavan and on the first floor will be kept open for public.

All are cordially invited for the rare occasion that is unique.

Programme on August 1

The programme on August 1 will start at 10 am with grand Mass followed by public programme at 11.45 am. Mumbai Arch Bishop, CCBI and FIBC president Cardinal Oswald Gracious will lead the Mass. Thiruvananthapuram Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Major Arch Bishop and Catholic Bishop Conference (CBCI) president Cardinal Baselious Climis will announce in Latin and Udupi Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will announce in Konkani the declaration of Minor Basilica.

Bengaluru Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras will deliver the homily. Ernakulum Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alancheri, Ranchi Archbishop Cardinal Telesfor Topo, Mangaluru bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D' Souza will be present.

Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district in charge ministers, MPs and MLAs will participate as guests of honour.

Only selected churches are pronounced as Minor Basilica. His Holiness the Pope of Catholics pronounces it on the basis of devotional programmes and attraction of the devotees on the recommendation of disciplinary committee. The Pope had announced recently that the Pilgrim center will be declared a Minor Basilica.