Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (JD)
Pics: Madhav Pai
Karkala, Feb 15: The feast of the St Antony's Relic was celebrated with much fervour and devotion here at the St Antony's Chapel, Pakala, Manjarpalke, Belman here on Tuesday, February 15.
Fr George D'Souza, parish priest, St Lawrence church, Moodubelle, concelebrated the Eucharistic Mass along with other priests.
The feast was celebrated with the motto "Let us love our parents and be blessed."
In his homily, Fr George D'Souza said, "Love has no ending. Wife should obey her husband as the Catholic Church heeds to Jesus Christ. The husband should also love his wife unconditionally. Children should obey their parents as Jesus obeyed the Almighty. We all love our children the most. Mother Mary began her family life surrendering to the Almighty's plan. Jesus did his first miracle in Cana obeying the words of Mother Mary.
"On this day of the feast of relic of St Antony we should ask ourselves whether we love our parents. No child can repay their parents’ sacrifices. Our parents have loved us from our birth and have given life to us. But today we have reached greater heights; we have acquired a lot of wealth but we have appointed caretakers to look after our parents. We admit our parents to old age homes citing various personal reasons. Our parents never left us in orphanages in our childhood.
"We promise earnest loyalty to our partners during marriage but that does not mean we abandon our parents. If we do not teach our children to love their parents, taking the same as a living example, our own children will abandon us in our old age. We should be role models for our children. One day we might require to turn our schools into old age homes. St Anthony awakens us to love our parents unconditionally all our lives,” he said.
St Antony's Chapel here in Pakala Manjarpalke is nearing its 50th year of inception. The chapel here has been a ray of hope for the devotees of St Antony. On the occasion of its Golden Jubilee Novena, prayer books in Konkani, Kannada and English languages were released by Fr Raymond D'Souza. Fr Ivan Martis is the editor of the novena prayer books.
Fr Edwin D'Souza, parish priest, St Joseph’s Church, Belman and other priests from the deanery took part in the Eucharistic celebrations. A large number of devotees participated in the Eucharistic celebrations.
Novena prayers and blessings of the relic were also held on the occasion. Nearly 2,000 devotees of St Antony from Udupi and neighboring dioceses participated in the festive celebration of St Anthony’s Relic. Festive meal was served to the devotees after the Holy Mass.
Alwyn Agera, vice-president, parish pastoral committee, Paustine D'Souza, secretary, Janet D'Mello, convener, 21 Commissions, Gregory Menezes, vice-president, shrine committee Gretta D'Souza, secretary and members of parish pastoral committee were present on the occasion.
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