Pics: Kevin Rodrigues

Daijiworld Media Network – Karakala (WD/KR)

Karkala, Jan 31: Karkala, Feb 1: The 5-day annual feast of St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur concluded on high note on Thursday January 31. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of diocese of Udupi presided over the Holy Eucharistic celebrations on Thursday, January 31.

The feast of Our Lady of Guidance was also celebrated on the same occasion.

Fr George D’Souza, rector, St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Fr Jencil Alva, assistant priest, Fr Joswy Fernandes, dean, Karkala deanery and priests from and outside the diocese con celebrated the Mass. This year the festival were celebrated on the theme ‘I am blessed, you too be blessed’.

Huge number of devotees thronged the Eucharistic celebration on the last day of the festivity.

In his homily, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo said, “We are here to seek the blessings and thank St Lawrence for all that he has done to us. The theme of the feast goes ‘I am holy so you also are holy’. Mother Teresa’s heart was concerned for the poor and needy and that is why she is known as the ‘Living Saint’. The words of Bible and Catholic Church call us to be holy. This is a primary call from God. While God created humans, he made us to be holy. Jesus Christ is also holy. He is the son of God and through his death and resurrection, he saved us.

“Though we are sinners, Jesus made us holy. Even Holy Spirit fills us with new life with virtues of Christ. People who have received baptism are called to be holy. Pope Francis says holiness is the face of Catholic Church. So what is the way to be holy? To be kind hearted and to help others, to fight against evil and to have love and compassion among others, to work for peace and harmony and to adore only one God. The one who helps the poor and needy in the time of need is being holy. Following Christ and walking the way of the cross in our daily life, makes us holy.

“We need to overcome the difficulties we face in our lives. If we do our daily chores in good and systematic way, it makes us holy. There is no need to be a saint or achieve great things to be holy. But small works with good intentions can make us holy. Even St Lawrence did the same. He dedicated his life for poor and needy and died as a martyr. So to be holy, let us follow the preaching of the Catholic Church, help people in need and lead a exemplary life,” he said.

During the five days of the celebration, six bishops Dr Aloysius Paul D’souza, bishop emeritus, Mangaluru diocese, Dr Robert Miranda, bishop, diocese of Gulbarga, Dr Peter Machado, archbishop, Bangalore Archdiocese, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop, diocese of Mangaluru, Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop, diocese of Beltangady and Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi had celebrated the festive Masses. Nearly 40 priests celebrated Mass in Kannada and Konkani, and about 350 priests from various congregations rendered their service to lacs of devotees through the practice of 'confession'.

Fr George D’souza, rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica thanked each and everyone for their support in making the five-day feast a successful one. He also thanked Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo and Msgr Dr Baptist Menezes, vicar general, diocese of Udupi, for their cooperation and guidance throughout the year in each and every development work of the Basilica. He further thanked vice president John D’Silva, and Leena D'Silva, secretary of the parish pastoral council, and other members of the council, the church choir, and choir groups from different parishes of the diocese, organisations of the parish and various committee members of the festival. He extended his gratitude to the president, vice president, PDO of Nitte gram panchayat, Laxman Nimbargi, SP of Udupi, Karkala, Srikanth ASI, Karkala, town and rural police personnel, home guards, primary health centre, Mescom, fire bridge officials and others for their support in making the festive celebration a grand success.

He stressed on making the entire campus dust-free on or before 2020 annual festival by laying special bricks to the entire premise and also on various development works at the Basilica which are the basic needs of devotees who visit throughout the year. Anyone who wants to contribute towards the cause can contact the rector of the Basilica.

Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo thanked Fr George D'Souza, rector of the Basilica, for his all service throughout the year and appreciated his developmental service. He also thanked Fr Jencil Alva, assistant parish priest, for his service at the Basilica. He appreciated the selfless service of the parishioners towards the Basilica. He called the devotees to remember this miraculous place in their prayers. He urged the devotees to extend their helping hand towards the upcoming development projects at the Basilica especially for the project that is the construction of rooms for pilgrims. He also blessed all the devotees for their support.

Priyanka Mary Francis, DC of Udupi, Kumara Chandra, ASP, Karkala and others visited the Basilica.

This year onwards, due to government notification, the event on Fridays has been cancelled.