Report & Pics: Canara Communication Centre, Mangalore
Mangaluru, Feb 7: The second day of the Novena preparatory to the relic feast of St Anthony of Padua was marked by a solemn Eucharistic celebration held at St Anthony’s Shrine, Milagres on Saturday evening, February 7. The liturgy was centred on the theme, "Speak the truth with sincerity."
A large gathering of devotees participated in the holy Mass, offering special prayers for the judiciary and judges of the courts.
Fr Rupesh Tauro of St Antony College, Naravi, presided over the holy Eucharist. In his homily, Fr Tauro emphasised the spiritual and societal importance of truthfulness. "Truth is not merely a virtue but the foundation of a just society. Speaking the truth with sincerity requires courage and a clear conscience, traits that are essential for every individual, but specifically for those entrusted with dispensing justice," he noted.
Aligning with the day's theme, the liturgy included special intentions for judges and legal professionals. The congregation prayed that those in the judiciary might be guided by divine wisdom to uphold truth and deliver justice impartially to all citizens.
Fr J B Crasta, director of St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu and Fr Praveen Amrith Martis, administrator, concelebrated the Mass. Following the holy Eucharist, the Novena prayers were led by Fr Praveen Martis. The choir, led by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters of St Agnes College, enriched the liturgy with melodious hymns, fostering a prayerful atmosphere at the shrine.
The Novena continues daily, leading up to the grand Relic Feast on February 15.
The highlight of the upcoming festivities:
Feast Day schedule – Sunday, February 15: The Relic Feast will be celebrated with several solemn services across the day:
• 6:00 am: Festal Mass at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, celebrated Dr Praveen Martis SJ, vice chancellor, St Aloysius (Deemed to be) University.
• 9:30 am: Solemn Festal Mass at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, celebrated by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop emeritus of Mangalore.
• 11:00 am: Holy Mass in Malayalam at Milagres Shrine celebrated by Fr Sebastian.
• 6:00 pm: The main grand festive mass at Milagres Shrine, presided over by Fr Bernard Moras, archbishop emeritus of Bangalore.
The Ashram administration invites all devotees to participate in these spiritual exercises and seek the powerful intercession of St Anthony.