Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jun 10: As preparation for the patron's feast at St Antony’s Shrine, Kerekatte on Tuesday , June 13, a three days tridum will be held beginning Saturday, June 10.

The Eucharistic celebration of the feast will be held at 10:30 am. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangaluru, will be the chief celebrant of the mass. Dr Francis Seravo, bishop of Shivamogga will preach the sermon.

Two other masses will be held on the feast day. One , in Kannada , at 8:30 am. The other, in Konkani, at 4 pm. This mass will be held especially for the sick. Special prayers will also be conducted.

Next year, the shrine will celebrate 50 years of it’s establishment on Thursday, July 13. The jubilee year celebrations will be inaugurated by Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop of Udupi. A new bell tower is planned to be built for the golden jubilee celebration. The foundation stone for the project will be laid on the feast day after the mass. Thereafter a short stage program will also be held.

The shrine, which  has been a place of peace to many devotees of St Antony who visit it from far-away places, is located at the foothills of the Balebare Ghat, with the scenic view.

Every Tuesday, the novena to St Antony will be held at the shrine at 10 am. Adoration will also be conducted before mass. Food for the devotees after the mass will be also provided.

A large hall for the purpose of celebrating mass is constructed at the shrine by Fr Xavier Pinto. Many developmental works are also done under his leadership. The shine is now declared as Parish by Udupi bishop and daily mass is also conducted.

Director Fr Xavier Pinto has invited devotees of St Antony to the celebrations.