Sea of Devotees Throng Annual Feast of St Lawrence Church, Attur
Report by Fr Francis Rodrigues, Raknno
Pics by Wilson Dsouza Shirva - Daijiworld Media Network
Karkala, Jan 25: The three-day annual feast of St Lawrence pilgrimage church, Attur, began with much pomp and grandeur, here on Tuesday January 25.
Thousands of devotees from all over Karnataka and neighbouring states thronged at the church premises, regardless of caste, creed and faith. The multitude of people is here at St Lawrence pilgrimage shrine for the three-day annual feast to offer prayers seeking the miraculous intercession of St Lawrence in their lives.
The holy masses are being offered in many languages which aim to enhance the faith of innumerable devotees arriving from all over the south India.
The first Mass at 9.30 am was celebrated by Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, the vicar general of the diocese of Mangalore. Fr Arthur Pereira, the Church director welcomed the vicar general.
After every Mass there was a special prayer for the sick in Konkani and Kannada. The visitors devoutly visited the relic of St Lawrence, confessed their sins, visited the pool at the shrine and received flowers and holy water in the church.
There were Masses at 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3 pm and 4.30 pm. Dr Robert Miranda, the bishop of Gulbarga would be celebrated the special Mass in Kannada at 8 pm.
All together there are 29 Masses during the festival this year. The main festal Mass on Wednesday, January 26 would be celebrated by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore. On Thursday, January 27 the festival Mass of ‘Giyad Mai’ would be celebrated by Fr Francis Serrao, provincial of Karnataka Jesuit Province.
On Monday January 24, there was a special Mass for the sick and special prayers for the sick by Fr Basil Vas of Holy Rosary Church and Infant Jesus Shrine of Alangar.
Fr Arthur Pereira says that devotees come in lacs to this Church for different reasons - to be cured of the mental-physical sicknesses, to experience the quietness of prayer, to experience the peace amidst the number tensions of life, to thank the Lord for the favours received, to receive the blessings form God and so on.
A number of arrangements have been made systematically to cater to the needs of the devotees. The director, local punchayath administration, police and administrative services, Attur parishioners, Karkala Deanery Catholic Sabha, diocesan as well as religious priests, sisters and lay leaders have joined hands to make the festival a great success.