Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 24: With hearts full of gratitude, the faithful of St Lawrence Church and Shrine in Bondel are joyfully preparing to celebrate the annual feast of their beloved patron, St Lawrence, on Monday, August 10.

The theme for this year's feast is "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12), with a core message calling on the faithful to "Like St Lawrence, let us love and serve the poor."

The details of the upcoming celebrations were announced during a press meet held at the church mini-hall on Friday, July 24.

Preparatory events and Hore Kanike

As part of the preparations for the annual feast, a Swachhta Abhiyan (cleanliness campaign) will be jointly organised on Saturday, July 25, by the environment, labour, and social development commissions of the shrine. The campaign will be inaugurated by Dr G Santosh Kumar, KAS, project director of the district urban development cell, highlighting the parish's commitment to environmental stewardship and community participation.

The traditional Hore Kanike (offering procession) will be held on Sunday, July 26, at 4:30 pm, commencing from the Mount Carmel School grounds. The procession will be ceremoniously flagged off by P V Mohan, member of legislative council, government of Karnataka. A large number of devotees are expected to participate, offering their gifts as a gesture of faith and thanksgiving.

A unique initiative of this year's feast is the medical aid fund. Inspired by the feast's message, devotees are invited to contribute generously towards providing medical assistance to the poor and needy, continuing the charitable legacy of the patron saint.

Nine-day novena details

As a spiritual preparation for the feast, a nine-day novena will be observed from August 1 to 9. Each day, morning adoration will be held from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, followed by the Holy Eucharist, novena prayers, and a blessing with the relic of St Lawrence. Lunch will be served to all attending devotees. Evening adoration will begin at 5:30 pm, followed by a solemn Holy Mass, novena prayers, and a blessing with the relic. Blessed bread will be distributed to all devotees after the evening Mass.

The novena will be inaugurated with the ceremonial unfurling of the St Lawrence flag on Saturday, August 1, at 10:00 am by Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, vicar forane of City Varado and parish priest of Paldane, who will also be the principal celebrant of the inaugural Holy Eucharist.

Special celebrations during the novena include praise and worship led by Bro Prakash on Saturday, August 8, from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm, followed by special healing prayers for the sick from 6:45 pm to 10:00 pm, including a dedicated prayer session for children. Additionally, for the first time at the shrine, a Malayalam Holy Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, August 9, at 12:00 noon.

Festal Masses and principal celebrants

The principal celebrants during the novena and the feast are as follows:

• August 8 (5:30 pm): Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras, archbishop emeritus.

• August 9 (10:30 am): Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, bishop emeritus.

• August 9 (5:30 pm): Most Rev Dr Ignatius Paul D'Souza, bishop of Bareilly.

• August 10 (10:30 am – Solemn Festal Mass): Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore.

• August 10 (5:30 pm – Concluding Festal Mass): Most Rev Dr Francis Serrao, bishop of Mysore.

Facilities for pilgrims

Throughout these sacred days, priests will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual counselling. Several facilities will be available for the convenience of pilgrims, including basic health guidance and ambulance services by the Fr Muller’s medical team, a voter ID help desk, an 'Amcho Sandesh' Konkani monthly bulletin stall by the Catholic Sabha Bondel unit, and services by the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP). Pilgrimage guidance will be provided by Daivik Amrich Pilgrimages, while religious articles and refreshment stalls will be managed by the Ladies Association, ICYM, and YCS.

All liturgical celebrations are being organised under the guidance of Fr Basil Vas, parish priest and shrine rector, and Jason Fernandes, convener of the St Lawrence Shrine committee. The parish warmly invites all devotees and people of goodwill to participate in the annual feast celebrations.

The press meet was attended by Fr Basil Vas, parish priest; Fr Peter Gonsalves, principal of St Lawrence English Medium School; Fr Lawrence Cutinha, assistant priest; John D'Silva, vice president; Jason Fernandes, shrine convener; Elias Fernandes, media coordinator; and Meena Barboza, media convener.