Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jul 26: The holy annual feast of St Lawrence Shrine, Bondel, will begin this year on July 31 and culminate on August 10. The ‘mega-feast’ is set to record new highs in terms of rituals and participation of devotees. Two high church dignitaries namely, retiring Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangaluru diocese and bishop-elect Msgr Peter Paul Saldanha will officiate the forenoon and evening masses respectively on the feast day.
In a press meet held at the shrine hall on Thursday, July 26, Fr Leo Veigas gave the details of the feast and said, “Thousands of devotees of St Lawrence are expected to congregate here at the Bondel shrine which is becoming a new place of worship for believers. Weekly novenas are held on forenoon every Tuesday ending with lunch for devotees. On all the days of devotion this year, starting from August 1 and ending with the feast on August 10, devotees will be offered lunch and blessed bread in the evenings. In addition, festive lunch will be offered after the feast mass.
“The feast mass on August 10 will start at 10:30 am and will celebrated led by Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, followed by a grand festive lunch for devotees. The evening feast mass will be celebrated by bishop-elect Msgr Peter Paul Saldanha at 6 pm.
“The concluding mega-feast day will be preceded by various programmes and devotion for ten days starting from July 31 with a ‘Hore Kanike’ procession with offerings beginning at 5 pm from Mount Carmel Central School, Maryhill, ending its way at the shrine complex at Bondel. On August 1, there would be a flag hoisting programme at 10:30 am. From August 1 to 10, there will be novena at 11 am and at 6 pm. The devotees would be served lunch and offered blessed bread after the evening service on each day of novena," he said.
Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, parish priest, released the invitation officially in front of the media and extended a warm welcome to the devotees of St Lawrence to participate on 11-day programme and reach for the blessings and favours of the saint.
Fr Cliford Pinto, principal, St Lawrance School, Stany Alvares, convenor, publicity committee, Hembert Pinto, vice-president, parish pastoral council, Rudy Pinto, convenor, feast committee, and Francis Veigas were present.