Second Day of St. Lawrence Basilica Annual Feast-Thousands of Devotees Attend Masses for the Sick

Bellevision Media Network

Attur-Karkala, 27 Jan: Those devotees have been visiting St. Lawrence Basilica at Attur throughout the year to be cured from physical and mental illness. The second day of the annual feast of the Basilica, that is, Monday has been reserved for special Masses and prayers for the benefit of the sick. On Monday, 27 January thousands of sick devotees converged at St. Lawrence Basilica to get relief from physical pain and mental illness through the intercession of St. Lawrence. Special arrangements were made for vehicles carrying sick devotees till the premises of the Basilica. For those who could not alight from the vehicles were administered Eucharist in the vehicles and offered special prayers for their recovery.

 

The special Mass on Monday was concelebrated by Bishop of Chikmagaluru, Most Rev. Dr. Antony Swami. In his homily, the Bishop said, “Faith without good deeds is lifeless. Our faith should be strengthened through good works. Our faith becomes fruitful when we serve the people with our good work”.

 

 

Fr. Andrew D’Souza, Parish priest of St. Lawrence Church, Bondel, Mangaluru and Fr. Reginald Pinto, Director of ‘Sampada’ Udupi offered special Mass for t he sick and afflicted. At the end of the Mass special prayers were offered for the sick and priests prayed on the sick by palcing their palms on each and every sick person.

 

Besides the special Mass for the sick in Kannada language the preists who offered Masses in Konkani  included Fr. Ivan Gomes (SVD) from Mulki, Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth from Belthangady, Fr. Louis D’Sa from Mukkamar. Fr. Anil Paes from Chikmagaluru offered another Mass in Kannada.

 

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka Veerappa Moily visited the Basilica. The Police Chief of Udupi Vishnuvardhan and Uday Kumar Shetty Muniyal were the other VIPs who visited St. Lawrence Basilica on Monday.

 

Except for a minor incident on Sunday night during which a generator caught fire due to short circuit, all other activities at the Basilica went on smoothly.

 

On Tuesday, 28 January, the third day of the annual feast of St. Lawrence Basilica there will be 11 Holy masses. At 10.30 am the Bishop of Belthangady, Most Rev. Dr. Jeevarghese Mar Makarios Kalayil will offer the Holy mass. In the evening Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, Bishop of Shivamogga will offer the Holy Mass in Kannada. Besides these there will be Holy masses in Konkani at 7.30 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 4.30pm, 8 pm, and 11pm. Masses in Kannada language will be at 1.30pm and 9.30.