Pics by: Wilfred Castelino, Roydon Digitals Belman
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (JD)
Karkala, Jun 13: The annual feast of St Anthony Shrine, Manjarpalke Pakala, was celebrated with great devotion on Tuesday, June 13. Thousands of devotees participated in the Eucharistic celebrations, seeking the blessings of the Lord.
Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Mangaluru, served as the chief celebrant for the grand Eucharistic celebration.
In his homily, Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza spoke about the miraculous life of St Anthony, who was born in Lisbon, Portugal, into a godly family. "St Anthony's miracles were renowned even during his lifetime. His mother and other family members were devout individuals who worshipped the Almighty and instilled a godly attitude in St Anthony. This serves as a lesson to all parents, urging them to raise their children with a reverence for God and to teach them the love for the Bible. St Anthony was especially dear to the poor, and he fought for their rights against the government and the rich, successfully advocating for laws that protected the interests of the poor when availing loans from the wealthy. Our Pope has set an example for us all by establishing dedicated institutions for impoverished beggars, ensuring their essential needs are met," he said.
Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza also highlighted the commendable work carried out by St Anthony's Ashram in Jeppu, under the Mangaluru Diocese, in aiding the poor and destitute. He mentioned that more than 400 impoverished individuals currently reside there, with around 100 students pursuing their education in the city.
During his expression of gratitude, Fr Fred Mascharenhas, the parish priest of Belman Church and rector of the Shrine, thanked the parishioners and devotees for their generous support in celebrating the annual feast and throughout the year.
The Eucharistic celebrations saw the participation of Fr Leslie D'Souza, the parish priest of Shirva, Fr Denis D'Sa, the parish priest of Thottam, Fr Clement Mascharenhas, Fr Arnold Mathias (assistant parish priest of Belman), and priests from the diocese.
Gregory Menezes, the president of the Chapel Committee, Alwyn Ageira, the secretary, and members of the Parish Pastoral Committee and Chapel Committee were present on this occasion.
St Anthony Shrine, located in Manjarpalke, Pakala near Belman in Udupi district, is renowned for its divine presence and the occurrence of numerous miracles. To accommodate the increasing holiness of the place, construction of a new, spacious, and state-of-the-art chapel building is currently underway.
Every year, thousands of devotees gather to partake in the annual feast and relic feast of St Anthony at this shrine. The Eucharistic celebration saw a significant number of devotees in attendance, and a communal lunch was provided to all. The popularity of "Pakalada Dever," as it is commonly known, is growing steadily, with an increasing number of visitors to the shrine each year.
Those willing to contribute towards the new project may refer to the details below:
St Anthony Shrine
Pakala, Manjarpalke
Belman - 574 110
Ph : +91 91410 31605 (Whatsapp)
Email ID : belmanchurchoffice@gmail.com
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