Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 15: Solemn proclamation and dedication of St Lawrence Shrine, Attur in Karkala will be held in the presence of four cardinals, over 30 bishops, more than 350 priests and thousands of devotees on Monday August 1 at the Shrine, said bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, addressing a press meet the bishop office here on Friday July 15.
St Lawrence Shrine with more than 300 years of history will be upgraded to minor Basilica. It will be only the 2nd Basilica in the entire Karnataka state and the 22nd in India. This is the highest status given to a Catholic church.
The bishop futher said, "After elaborate preparations of nearly two years and fulfilling all the requirements sent by the Roman Pontiff, we have obtained the permission for declaring the Shrine as a minor Basilica."
Msgr Baptist Menezes, vicar general of the diocese of Udupi, Fr Lawrence D'Souza, sirector of CESU, diocese of Udupi and convener of the historical event, Fr George D'Souza, director, St Lawrence Shrine, Attur, and Fr Denis D'Sa, public relation officer, diocese of Udupi were present on the occasion.
August 1 will be celebrated as the Dedication Day from next year onwards.
Programme on August 1
The programme on August 1 will start at 9.30 am with the inauguration of 9 days novena and a grand Mass at 10 am, followed by a public programme at 11.45 am. Mumbai Archbishop, CCBI and FIBC president Cardinal Oswald Gracias will lead the Mass. Thiruvananthapuram Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Major Archbishop and Catholic Bishop Conference (CBCI) president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis will announce the declaration of minor Basilica in Latin while Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will announce the same in Konkani.
Bengaluru Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras will deliver the homily. Ernakulum Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alancheri, Ranchi Archbishop Cardinal Telesfor Topo, and Mangaluru bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza will be present.
Pramod Madhwaraj, minister for fisheries, sports and youth services and Udupi district in-charge, Ramanath Rai, minister for forests, environment and ecology, Sunil Kumar, MLA of Karkala, Shobha Karandlaje, MP of Udupi-Chikkamgaluru, Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP, Vinaya Kumar Sorake, MLA of Kaup, J R Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru south, Ivan D’Souza, MLC and Gopal Bhandary, former MLA will participate.
The public function will be followed by lunch for all. Around 12,000 people are expected to participate in the programme.