Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 12: The seventh day of the Novena, preparatory to the relic feast of St Anthony of Padua, was observed with solemnity at St Anthony’s Shrine, Milagres on Thursday , February 12 evening. The liturgy was centred on the profound spiritual theme, "Speak to reconcile, not to argue."
A large congregation of devotees gathered for the eucharistic celebration, offering special prayers for priests and religious. The faithful prayed for the clergy and consecrated men and women, asking God to grant them the grace to be true instruments of peace and unity in the church and society.
Fr Andrew D'Souza, parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Bondel, presided over the Holy Eucharist. In his homily, Fr D'Souza emphasised the need for constructive communication. "In our daily lives, we are often tempted to win arguments rather than win hearts. St Anthony teaches us that our speech should be a bridge for reconciliation, not a weapon for division. When we speak to reconcile, we imitate Christ who reconciled the world to Himself," he remarked.
Aligning with the day's intention, the liturgy included special supplications for priests and religious, that they might lead the faithful with wisdom and continue to be visible signs of God's mercy in the world.
Fr Praveen Amrith Martis, administrator, Fr Gilbert D'Souza, chaplain and Fr Nishanth Vivian Rodrigues, assistant director, concelebrated the Mass. Following the Holy Eucharist, the Novena prayers were led by Fr Gibert D'Souza, invoking the intercession of St Anthony for the intentions of the gathered devotees.
The liturgy was made especially meaningful by the choir from St Lawrence Church, Bondel. Their melodious and spirited singing enriched the eucharistic celebration, fostering a devout and prayerful atmosphere at the shrine.
The novena continues daily, leading up to the grand Relic Feast on February 15, 2026.
The highlight of the upcoming festivities:
Feast Day Schedule – Sunday, February 15, 2026:
The Relic Feast will be celebrated with several solemn services across the day:
• 6:00 AM: Festal Mass at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, celebrated by Rev 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 Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop emeritus of Mangalore.
• 11:00 AM: Holy Mass in Malayalam at Milagres Shrine celebrated by Fr Eby Sebastian CST.
• 6:00 PM: The main grand festive Mass at Milagres Shrine, presided over by Rev 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.