Report & Photos: Canara Communication Centre, Mangalore

Mangaluru, Jun 6: The seventh day of Tredicina devotion preceding the annual feast of St Anthony of Padua was held on Thursday, June 6 at St Anthony Shrine, Milagres Church, Mangaluru.

Fr Joseph Martis, parish priest of Derebail celebrated the Holy Eucharistic and prayed for the youth along with Fr J B Crasta, director and Fr Nelson Peris, assistant director of St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu.

Fr Joseph Martis delivered a powerful sermon on the theme, "Finding Victory through Prayer in Times of Distress." He illustrated this with examples from the Bible, The Blind man who cried out to the Lord and was Healed, the Centurion whose prayer was answered, and Esther who prayed for her people.

Fr Martis emphasized that everyone can pray to God, and in moments of crisis and hardship, prayer brings consolation, hope and peace. He highlighted that prayer is the path to victory. "Even Jesus prayed during His passion and suffering, showing us the importance of faith in our prayers," he added.

He encouraged the congregation to have faith in their prayers. "If it is God's will, our prayers will be answered. If not, God will provide us the strength to endure." he said.

“Let us therefore commit to praying simple prayers with great faith,” Fr Joseph concluded.

At the end of the mass, Fr Nelson Peris, assistant director of the Ashram led the novena in honour of St Anthony, during which the special intercession of the session was sought for the various needs and prayer intentions of the devotees.

Choir members of Derebail Parish sang and joined in the thanksgiving. Payasam (sweet dish) was served to all the devotees who attended the devotion.