St. Lawrence Basilica, Attur prepared for annual feast celebrations from January 21 to 26

By Richard D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Karkala, 15 Jan 2024: The Annual feast of Attur Saint Lawrence Basilica, 2024 will be held on 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th of January. In this regard, all preliminary preparations have been made and we are ready for the annual feast celebration on behalf of the basilica, said Very Rev. Fr Alban D’Souza, Director and Rector of the Minor Basilica, Attur.

 

Addressing a press conference on Saturday at the office of the Basilica, Fr Alban said that on 26-01-2024, there will be Holy Mass and special prayers for the sick and children on Friday. The sick people participate to the mass on the same day and requested to cooperate with us.

 

During the annual feast celebration days, 45 in Konkani language and 3 in Kannada language and thus total 48 Eucharistic masses will be offered. On the days of the annual feast, the religious leaders of Beltangady, Puttur, Mangalore, Shimoga and Udupi Bishop will arrive here and offer divine Eucharistic masses. For the safety of the devotees, 64 CC cameras have been installed inside the basilica and in the premises of the basilica.

 

 

On the right side of the basilica, i.e. next to the ’Miracle Statue’, there is an arrangement for confession of sins for Catholic Christians. He said that only prayer is allowed inside the Church.

 

Devotees have been given an opportunity to submit their offerings in the form of money, materials, and candles to the Shrine on the left side of the church. Clean and cold drinking water system will be made for devotees at five places in the basilica’s residence. There are about 40 modern privileged toilets in the Basilika residence next to the Police Service Center and 20 toilets on the left side of the priests’ home to meet the physical needs. There are separate toilets for disabled and commode type toilets for senior citizens, he said.

 

Maximum number of police officers and police constables will be on duty to maintain law and order. They will be responsible for the safety of the pilgrims. The parking system of the pilgrims will be supervised by the skilled Home Guard and other personnel.

 

In order to avoid the inconvenience caused to the devotees by the traffic of vehicles coming through the Kabettu gate, an extensive parking space has been provided on the left side when entering the Doopadakkatte gate from Pulkeri via Dupadakatte, on the left side at the turn near the Garden House, and on the left side after crossing the Garden House.

 

Rickshaw traffic is allowed till Kodange Sri Robert Noronha’s house. There is no vehicular access in front of it. For the vehicles coming from Kabettu side, while coming ahead after crossing Prasad Tailor Junction, on the right hand side, the wide playground of St Lawrence High School, administered by St Lawrence Basilica, is completely reserved for parking.

 

Motorists with vehicle pass bring their vehicles through Kabettu – Attur Convent route and turn left near Panchayat Toilet on the left side and proceed forward and near BSNL MOBILE TOWER on the right side proceed forward and turn left to V.I.P. And arrangements have been made to park the vehicles in a spacious parking lot constructed for other PASS HOLDERS.

 

Vehicles with Vehicle Pass, parked vehicles are connected to Karkala-Padubidri road through a one-way concrete road from the parking area. Except for police vehicles and emergency medical vehicles, no other vehicles are allowed to enter the premises of the basilica.

 

 

Candles are sold only at the official stall of the Basilica in the premises of the Basilica. The sale of candles is strictly prohibited within the premises of the Basilica. For smooth movement of the public and devotees, the local Nitte Gram Panchayat Management Board has been informed to leave at least 5 feet space from both sides of the road from Dupadakatte to Prasad Tailor Junction and construct a shop front. This is very necessary for safety reasons and to prevent physical harassment to any person passing by on the road.

 

A large new statue of Saint Lawrence, carved from single stone, is enshrined on the right side of the basilica. A statue of St. Lawrence carved out of stone is not found anywhere except in the province of Rome in Italy and in the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Attur. A new statue of St. Lawrence carved out of Ekashila stone has been installed in St. Lawrence Pushkarani. He said that the pushkarani in the basilica and the one-stone statue of St Lawrence in Pushkarani would not be found anywhere else in the world except here in Attur St Lawrence Basilica.

 

Assistant Parish priest Rev. Fr Larry Pinto, Spiritual Director Vice President Santosh DSilva, Secretary Ronald Noronha, office bearers Vandish Mathias, Prakash Pinto, Ritesh Pinto, Roshan Salis were present in the press conference.