Attur St Lawrence Basilica All Geared Up To Celebrate Annual Feast
Karkala: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at the Basilica Office, Fr George D’Souza – Rector of the Basilica said, “The annual feast of Attur St Lawrence Basilica will be held on 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 January 2020. All preparations for the great event have been completed. We hope and pray that all the devotees arriving at the Basilica experience mental peace and spiritual contentment.
On Sunday, 26 January at 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm there will be masses for the children and special prayer. At 10:30 pm ‘Christa Karunya’ puppet Yakshagana will be presented. On Monday, 27 January at 10 am and 3:30 pm there will be mass and special prayers for the sick. The sick are requested to attend these masses and prayers on this day only. During the annual feast, there will be 34 masses in Konkani and 14 in Kannada totalling 48 masses. During these days Bishops from Shivamogga, Belthangady, Chikkamagaluru, Puttur, Mangalore and Udupi will offer solemn feast masses.
Further Fr George said, For the security of the pilgrims 64 CC Cameras have been installed in the premises of the Basilica. On the right side of the Basilica, arrangements have been made for the Confession of Catholics. Inside the church has been reserved for prayers only. Arrangements will be made to accept petitions in the form of money, items and candles on the left side of the Basilica.
Fresh and clean drinking water will be made available at 5 water points. 40 toilets with modern amenities have been made next to the Police Security Post and 20 to the left side of the Presbytery. There are special toilet facilities for the physically challenged and commode facilities for the senior citizens. The Police officers and staff will maintain discipline and law and order in the premises and outside the Basilica. Bomb disposal squads and Reserve Police have taken the responsibilities of the security of the pilgrims. Parking Directions for the vehicles of the pilgrims will be given by experienced Home Guards assisted by volunteers, he said.
In order to reduce the inconvenience to the pilgrims due to the arrival of vehicles from Kaabettu entrance, vehicles will be diverted from Fulkeri to Doopadakatte Entrance where there is vast parking place to the left, to the left of Garden House bend as well as to the left beyond the Garden House. Parking place is also provided in the land of Kodange Robert Noronha. Beyond this place, vehicles will not be permitted. Those vehicles arriving from Kabettu, after crossing Prasad Tailor Junction can be parked in the ground of St. Lawrence High School to the right side of the road. Nitte Grama Panchayat has been requested to level the ground on both sides of the road through Attur Prasad Tailor Junction, Attur Yuvaka Mandala, Chetana Halli, Gundyadka in order to facilitate the parking of vehicles.
Those vehicles with passes can drive their vehicles through Kabettu-Attur Convent Road and park them on the prepared ground on the Parpale Hill to the left side of the Basilica. Vehicles holding passes as well as those vehicles parked on the Parpale Hill should proceed in the one-way concrete road leading to Karkala-Padubidri main road. Except for police and emergency service vehicles no other vehicles will be permitted in the premises of the Basilica. Candles will be sold in the authorized stalls only. No unauthorized sale of candles will be permitted.
As per the directives of the Karnataka Government and orders from the Police Department under the “Karnataka Beggars Prohibition Law 1975” begging in the premises of the Basilica is completely banned and no alms will be given to the beggars on Friday. For the smooth passage of the public and pilgrims, 5 feet from both edges of the road have been left free and Nitte Grama Panchayat has been advised to provide space for the stalls beyond this limit. Nitte Grama Panchayat which auctions space for stalls on both sides of the road has been asked to provide CC Cameras for the security of the pilgrims. Loudspeaker facilities will be provided from Doopada Katte to Chetana Halli to announce various services and facilities during the entire period of the annual feast.
Additional attraction in Minor Basilica
Fr George said in order to reduce the rush of the pilgrims entering through the two main gates, two more entrances have been opened through the newly constructed building to the right side of the Basilica. Pilgrims arriving from Doopadakatte can use these two additional entrances. On the right side of the Basilica seating arrangement for about 3000 people is being provided. A monolithic new statue of St. Lawrence has been installed on the right side of the Basilica. Earlier such statue was installed in Rome. This monolithic statue has been installed in the Pushkarani Pond. This is unique in the entire world, he said.
Rev Roy Lobo Assistant Parish Priest, John Silva, Santhosh D’Silva, Leena D’Silva and others were present.
