Daijiworld Media Network – Karakala (WD/KR)

Karkala, Jan 30: Huge number of faithful sought blessings of St Lawrence on the third day of the annual feast of St Lawrence at Attur here.

The celebrations began on Sunday January 27 and will continue till January 31.

With the theme of this year’s feast 'Am holy so you also be holy' the festive mass was in Kannada. Dr Peter Machado, archbishop, diocese of Bengaluru was the main celebrant, while Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi, Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Joswey Fernandes, dean, Karkala deanery and other priests from the diocese were the concelebrants.

After the holy eucharistic celebrations in the public felicitation, Abhay Chandra Jain, former minister, Ivan D’Souza, Congress chief whip in Karnataka legislative council, Kota Srinivas Poojary, opposition leader, Karnataka legislative council, Ramanath Rai, former state minister, Sunil Kumar, MLA Karkala, Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA, Kaup, Gopal Bhandary, former MLA Karkala visited the minor Basilica.

All the leaders were honoured on behalf of the Basilica. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi, Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Jencil Alva, assistant parish priest, John D’Silva, vice president, Pastoral Council, Leena D’Silva, secreatry and others members of the Pastoral Council were present during the occasion.

In his homily Dr Peter Machado said, ”I am very delighted to come here as a devotee and see lot of people’s belief in St Lawrence. He was a person of miracles. His holy life inspires us to live a holy life. There are three major aspects to lead a holy life. Firstly, we experience the holiness of God. There is no bad in God. Bad things come through us and we need to leave these bad deeds and lead a holy life. If we do not become holy it is like not being in God.

“Secondly being holy in our daily life. Good deeds in our daily life make us holy. The same was done by St Lawrence. He showed holiness in his day to day good deeds. If a person conducts his life with responsibility and sincerity that makes him holy.

"The third aspect is holiness in others or in our neighborhood. In order to make us divine, God created us. That is why we need to see God in others and lend a helping hand to them at times of need. When we lend a helping hand to others in need, it makes us holy. We need to pray for others. Every work we do is divine and we need to do it well. God is everywhere and let us try to find him in others. St Lawrence saw God in poor and needy and thus lent a helping hand to them. Let us also follow his footsteps.”

Various church choir teams arrived to make the holy eucharistic celebrations more meaningful with better involvement of the devotees. Many religious leaders and politicians visited the shrine.

Devotees visiting the holy place have increased this year. People can be seen offering prayers at the feet of the statue of the saint, lighting the offertory candles to the saint and visiting the pond of miracles. The priests are seen distributing holy water and flowers as blessings.

Basic facilities like widening of the approach roads to the Basilica, ample water supply, parking facilities, guest rooms, toilets and more have been provided so that devotees may not face any problems. With concrete slabs laid in front of the church hall, this year more space is made available on the church grounds.

Abiding to the laws, rules and regulations of the government, this year collecting donations for beggars and the programme which was to be held on Friday of the festive week were stopped, but the donations collected in boxes will be utilised to help people who suffer health issues and are facing financial constraints. However,
the people who need help need to submit documentation which will be placed before the committee and decision will be taken on helping the person.

On Wednesday January 30, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha will preside over the festive mass at 10.30 am and in the evening at 5.30 pm. Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop, diocese of Beltangady will preside over the mass in Kannada.

On Thursday January 31, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will preside over the festive mass in Konkani. During the five days, round the clock arrangements for confession service are conducted by the priests.