Pics: Stanly Bantwal
Media Release
Mysuru, Jun 14: The historical Dornahalli Jatra at St Anthony's Basilica, Dornahalli, which began with 9 days of novena on June 4, celebrated the annual feast on Monday June 13.
The novena began on June 4 along with the flag hoisting ceremony and the Eucharistic celebration by bishop emeritus of Mysore, Dr Thomas Antony Vazhapilly. On June 12, Masses were celebrated by Fr N T Joseph, Fr James Dominic, Fr Joseph Packiaraj, Fr George Deepak, Fr Vijay Kumar, Fr Stanley D'Almeida and Fr M Vincent.
On the feast day, which was on Monday, the Kannada Mass was celebrated by Bishop of Mysore Fr Dr K Antony William, Msgr Alfred J Mendonca, vicar general, diocese of Mysore, and Fr Dominic Vas, episcopal vicar for religious, diocese of Mysore, the Tamil Mass by Most Dr A Amalraj, diocese of Ootacamund, English Mass by Dr Rozario Menezes, bishop of LAE, PNG, and another Kannada Mass by Msgr Jayanathan, secretary, KRCBC.
After the Mass Bishop Dr Antony William along with other priests did the adoration which followed by a car procession and benediction of the Holy Eucharist. Novena was conducted on the feast day too. Fr N T Joseph thanked all the devotees. Fr Praveen Kumar, Fr Isaac, and Fr Bernard Prakash, rector, St Philomena Educational Institutions, Mysuru, helped on the day of feast.
About St Anthony's Basilica, Dornahalli
Around 200 years ago, a farmer ploughing his field in Dornahalli, unearthed a wooden statue of St Anthony of Padua. The farmer built a small place of worship in honour of the saint. A large church was built at the site in the middle of 19th century and another in 1920. When this church was in a dilapidated condition, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1969. However, the facade from the 1920 church was renovated and retained. This church in the shape of a Tau cross and can accommodate a thousand people. It also houses a small relic of St Anthony brought from Italy. Pope Francis granted the title of Minor Basilica to the shrine to a decree dated October 17, 2019.