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Karkala: First annual celebration of St Lawrence Basilica held with devotional fervour

  •   Tue, Aug 01 2017 07:43:35 PM

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

Karkala, Aug 1: The first annual celebration of proclamation and dedication of St Lawrence Basilica, Attur here was held with devotional fervour on Tuesday August 1.

Nine-day-novena prior to the titular feast was also inaugurated on the occasion.

Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi, presided over the holy Eucharistic celebrations while Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Basilica, Attur, Msgr Dr Baptist Menezes, vicar general, diocese of Udupi, Fr Jesnil Alva, assistant parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Attur, Fr William Menezes, PRO, diocese of Mangaluru, and other priests from the diocese took part in the Eucharistic celebrations. 

In his homily, Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo said, “We have proclaimed this year as year of ‘Lexio Divina’ which means the year of Word of God in Udupi diocese. This invites all the faithful to read and reflect the word of God and live according to the word of God. While we start nine days of novena today in the name of St Lawrence, let us reflect specially on the Word of God. St Jerome says ‘The person, who does not know the Bible or the word of god, doesn’t know Christ’. Through Bible we get to know about Christ, he speaks to us through it, his words give us strength and also help us to lead a fruitful life.

"The Word of God gives a new ray of hope to all and strengthens our faith in God. But still we are not aware about the Word of God. For us our life has become like the beggar who begs holding a golden plate but has no knowledge about the valuable thing he possesses or like the person who dies of thirst, stuck in his boat in the middle of the sea," he said. 

Further narrating the parable of the sower, he said that, “If we need to live according to the Word of God, then we need to follow it in the following four ways: Shravana which means listening to the Word of God, Manana, that is, to reflect  and understand the Word of god, Nidhi dhyasana or contemplation, and the last is Anukarna, meaning, living according to the Word of God that we have listened to, reflected and meditated on.

"Today we have gathered here to celebrate the feast of St Lawrence. He was a true follower of God. He followed the words of Christ and helped the poor and needy and proved that they are the real treasures of the Catholic Church. So let us listen, reflect, mediate and live according to the Word of God and be like the person who built his house on rock whose foundation was very strong and wouldn’t be destroyed by the storm," the bishop concluded. 

After the mass, the special prayers interceding St Lawrence were offered for the sick. Fr George Thomas D’Souza, rector and parish priest of St Lawrence Minor Basilica Attur thanked all the devotees present on the occasion.

Prior to the mass there was adoration service headed by Fr George D’Souza, rector and parish priest of St Lawrence Minor Basilica Attur. 

Later fellowship meal was served to all the devotees.

The titular feast will be celebrated on Thursday August 10 at 10:30 am. The festal mass will be headed by Fr Pius James D’Souza, OCD, Episcopal Vicar, diocese of Mangalore.

Priests will hear confession from 9:30 am onwards.
  

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Comment on this article

  • John Macias, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 03 2017

    I can not and I do not wish to argue with you any further... Thanks

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Angel, UK

    Thu, Aug 03 2017

    Its not argument but making people understand my brother that

    Old Testament is the Shadow
    And
    New Testament is the Reality

    Peace be with you

    God Bless You

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Macias, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 03 2017

    (Reply part 2 of 2)

    So what does God’s commandment mean? If we look ahead in the future at the story of the Israelites with this bronze serpent we can see an answer. Several hundred years after God had told Moses to create the bronze serpent, the people still had this image in their possession. It was a reminder of God’s interventions in their lives as well as of God’s love and mercy. However, we are told in that there came a time during the reign of King Hezekiah that the people not only used this image as a reminder but began to worship this image. We are told that they began to burn incense to the bronze serpent. This is a phrase equivalent to worship. The people had turned this bronze serpent into a god – they were practicing idolatry. It was in this moment that we are told the good King Hezekiah took the bronze serpent and destroyed it. Rather than elevate men’s minds to God, the image was turned into an idol and thus had to be destroyed (2 Kings 18:4).

    We also see the Israelites created the golden calf and what was the problem (Ex 32:7-8)? They worshiped it! It was a god to them. Thus, some of the Israelites were killed but all were seen as having broken God’s covenant in this act. But when Catholics have images of angels or Saints in heaven or of Jesus Christ Himself, it is not the images we pray to nor worship. We use these images as visual aids. Looking upon the image of Christ we are drawn to the reality of Jesus – who He is, what He has done for us. Looking upon the angels and Saints are minds are lifted to heaven where all faithful creatures of God are unceasingly giving glory to God and experiencing infinite happiness and we are reminded that this is where we too one day hope to be. Images can help to teach us like we see in many stain glass windows, teaching us the story of salvation. They can help us block out distractions in prayer by keeping our minds more focused. We are reminded that the Saints and Angels are cheering us on and praying for us.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Angel, UK

    Thu, Aug 03 2017

    God Bless You Brother

    I hope you belive in prophecy...!!!

    As you said here bronze serpent with pole represents Christ and Cross.
    God in that age told Moses to tell Israelite's to see in Serpants eye to be saved.
    And later they started worshiping it. And thats the reason God gave commandments.

    The prophecy is fulfilled in this age after Christ was crucified.
    Because people instead of worshiping True God started worshiping Jesus Idol and Cross.
    And Israelite's are none other than the people who worship all idols and cross(Its not told by me its
    a prophecy in bible)

    Its told in bible knowing fact we are deaf, blind and we act we dont know anything.

    EVERYTHING IS PROPHESIED

    Satan is like a roaring lion around everyone...even this is been told in bible.(Book of Revelations)

    God bless you brother.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • REGINALD M DSOUZA, KARKALA

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    ST.Lawrence Pray for Us.
    Nice Coverage Daijiworld.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Macias, Mumbai

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    Do Catholics worship idols?

    People sometimes accuse Catholics of "idolatry" keeping images of the saints. The charge is unjust and untrue. We do not give to images the honor that is due only to God. We dont worship icons/statues of the saints any more than our neighbours worship photos of their grandchildren.

    As Catholics we worship God and God alone. We do not worship Mary or the Saints in heaven or the angels. We do not worship any human being. Kneeling can be an outward gesture to suggest worship but if one kneels by her bed holding a Bible, is she worshiping her bed or her Bible? No. Similarly, kneeling before a statue does not mean we are worshiping that statue. Technically, we dont even venerate the icons, rather the persons who are represented by the icons.

    Even then, we do not venerate the saints themselves with the kind of worship that is due to God alone. It is God who created the saints, blessed them and elevated them for our imitation. To him we give the glory, and to him we render thanks.

    One of the early Church Fathers, St. John of Damascus, made the classic disntinction between latria, which is the adoration we give to God, and dulia, the veneration we give to our parents, our country, the cross, the Bible, and the saints.

    Veneration is simply honor, and it is due honor. We pay "respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due," as the Apostle exhorted us (Romans 13,7).

    So no Catholic who knows anything about the Catholic faith ever worships a statue.. Statues are simply a visual reminder of great saints and heroes of the faith (Heb 11), the “great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), who are more alive than we are (2 Cor 3,18), and who interced for us from heaven.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Angel, UK

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    God Bless You Brother

    I Humbly request you only one thing Please read Revelation in which future is already written.
    Its not only one who pray to idols but even one who creates an idol are cursed by GOD.

    This is the age of Holy Spirit

    You might be thinking i am from any group but NO. Their was one group of Christ and it was divided by King Constantine. (The first pope of Roman Catholics).

    My another simple question Mother Theresa is a person who served people from her heart. But people have started her Church with new novenas..its fully business.

    Instead of that they could have given same money to the needys instead of building chruch.

    This case is equal to Mary also she gave birth to christ and people started building chruch and making idols.

    Conclusion in the name of Mother Theresa, Mary and Jesus.... Business is growing high WITHOUT GST.

    I request everyone to read and UNDERSTAND Book of Revelations.
    GOD BLESS YOU

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Macias, Mumbai

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    Dear Angel, Thanks for your comment. You know, I find it difficult to follow what you have written. Besides you have written too many things in a short post. I understand you have a number issues troubling you. But let's clear them one by one. Tell me which issue is troubling you the most. Is it lazy Catholics who are not reading the Book of Revelation correctly, or Mother Teresa, Mother Mary, Novenas, money... Tell me where should I start. We do not want to create a mess here, I guess! God bless you

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Johnson, Udupi

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    Let's not rely on our own human understanding. We have to rely on Gods word for guidance.

    Proverbs 3: 5-7
    5 Trust in Jehovah+ with all your heart,And do not rely* on your own understanding.+
    6 In all your ways take notice of him,+And he will make your paths straight.+
    7 Do not become wise in your own eyes.+

    Psalms 115: 2-8
    2 Why should the nations say:“Where is their God?”+
    3 Our God is in the heavens;He does whatever he pleases.
    4 Their idols are silver and gold,The work of human hands.+
    5 A mouth they have, but they cannot speak;+Eyes, but they cannot see;
    6 Ears they have, but they cannot hear;A nose, but they cannot smell;
    7 Hands they have, but they cannot feel;Feet, but they cannot walk;+They make no sound with their throat.+
    8 The people who make them will become just like them,+As will all those who trust in them.+

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • John Macias, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 03 2017

    (Reply part 1 of 2)

    Dear Angel, Johnson,

    Catholics worship God and God alone. We do not worship Mary or the Saints in heaven or the angels. We do not "worship" any human being, be it Mother Mary, Mother Teresa or anyone! Catholics are well aware of the commandment of God where He says, “I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in earth beneath…you shall not bow down to them or serve them...” (Ex 20:4-5).

    As Catholics we are obligated to keep this commandment. However, this commandment does not forbid the creation of statues in and of themselves. If God had intended this to mean that no statue of a creature should ever be made, then God soon after this will command Moses to break the commandment, which would be unreasonable. God cannot contradict Himself – either a statue of a creature could be made by men or it could not be made, both cannot be true. God will command Moses to make two golden angels – two Cherubim – to set on top of the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:10-22). God will command Solomon to have two statues of olive wood to be made for the sanctuary of the Temple (1 Kings 6:23; 7:13-51). God will command Solomon to place statues of bulls, oxen, vegetation and flowers within the Temple as well.

    There is another instance when God commands Moses to create an image. During a time in the wilderness when the Israelites were disobeying God, poisonous serpents were sent into the camp and if bitten a person would die. The people repented and called on God to help them from this plague. God then told Moses to make a bronze serpent to put on top of a standard – a pole – and if a person had been bitten by a snake, he could look upon this bronze serpent and be healed – they would not die (Num 21:6-9). Here we see not only to God command an image to be made, God also used this image as an instrument for healing. (continued...)

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sr.Janet Mendonca BS, Miyar, Karkala - now in Guwahati-Assam

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    St.Lawrence Basilica- an abode of peace,blessings and miracles. Praise God forever. Always cherish the holy memories of this abode.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    For the past several decades I have seen people from all over south India assemble at Karkala during the festive season and pray to St. Lawrence for various blessings.

    It is sated that St. Lawrence is a MIRACLE SAINT. This is not a myth but a fact.

    Let us all put our trust in this great saint and appeal to him for help and guidance.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun Sanil, Canada

    Wed, Aug 02 2017

    I miss this church a lot. Great place.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Aug 01 2017

    Praise the Lord ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Karkala: First annual celebration of St Lawrence Basilica held with devotional fervour



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