Karkala: The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah, laid the foundation stone for the new Yathri Nivas building at St Lawrence Shrine Auttur here on January 28.
The foundation stone was laid in the presence of Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo Bishop of Udupi, Fr George D’Souza Director of the Shrine, Richard Pinto vice president of Parish Pastoral council, Minister U T Khadar, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Ramanath Rai, MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Gopal Bhandary former MLA, Rehamath Sheik municipal council president and others.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly erected three floored office and residential block on the occasion.
On Wednesday, special mass was concelebrated by Dr Aloysius P D’Souza Bishop of Mangaluru with Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Dr Antony Fernandes, Retired Bishop from Bareily Diocese, Dr Pius D’Souza, Bishop of Ajmer Diocese, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese Msgr Baptist Menezes, Rector of St Lawrence Shrine Fr George D’Souza, Fr Denis D’Sa, PRO of Udupi Diocese, Dean of Karkala Varado, Fr John Barboza and other priests.
In his Homily, Bishop Aloysius P D’Souza Emphasizing on the need to promote consecrated family life, made an appeal to the parents to provide good example of prayer, reciting Rosary, reading of the Bible and coming to the help of the poor and the marginalized. As the modern world has made progress in terms of education, economic progress and increased social status, certain basic aspects such as faith, prayers, love of God and respect and affection for the elders has taken a back seat. The Bishop made an appeal to the pilgrims to follow the path of St Lawrence in manifesting the consecrated Christian life.
At the end of the mass, the Rector of the Shrine, Fr George D’Souza expressed gratitude to all those who had helped in organizing the five days long festive season at the shrine. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo and Fr George D’Souza felicitated the other three Bishops who had concelebrated the festal mass.