Large number of Devotees Throng St Lawrence Basilica Attur on the Third day of Feast
Karkala: The first feast after the proclamation of the shrine as Minor Basilica the third day of the Annual Feast of St Lawrence Basilica-Attur Karkala was celebrated with gaiety, with thousands of people from all walks of life thronging the holy place for blessings.
The main feast mass on the third day was concelebrated by Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Bernard Moras along with the Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Fr George D’Souza-Rector of the Basilica, Fr Anil D’Souza-Dean of Kundapur Deanery, Fr Vijay D’Souza-Assistant Parish Priest of Attur and a number of other priests.
Archbishop Bernard Moras preached the homily of the Vespers in the Kannada language on the theme of this year’s annual feast of the Basilica “Be My Witnesses”. Elaborating the theme, Archbishop Moras said that Jesus Christ came to this world to spread the good news. Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus gave power to his apostles to continue His work of spreading the Good News throughout the world. Many apostles went from Jerusalem to different parts to preach the Good News and many of them had to pay with their life due to persecution. During the early years of Christianity, many followers of Christ were martyred including St Lawrence in whose honour the annual feast is being celebrated. St Lawrence spent his life in serving the church and the poor for which he was persecuted and eventually martyred.
Those early martyrs and even the later martyrs became witness to Christ by shedding their blood for their belief and faith in Jesus Christ and for spreading His Good News. Speaking further, Archbishop Moras said that it is not only the duty of the priests, religious and nuns to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ but the duty of all those who have been baptized in the name of Jesus. While doing so the faithful have to face many obstacles and even persecution and death. Archbishop Moras cited the example of Graham Stein, the Australian Missionary working in Kandhamal, Orissa and his two sons who were burnt alive by fanatics. But his wife Gladys Stein, by following the way shown by Jesus forgave those who were responsible for the death of her husband and two sons.
Driving home the responsibilities of Christian families, Archbishop Bernard Moras said that the families are on the verge of cracking up due to various reasons. While the parents have no time for their children, the youngsters have been developing a tendency of increasingly depending on modern technologies and social media to foster their relationship. There is a strong need to strengthen the family bond through regular prayers and reading of the Holy Scriptures.
Archbishop Bernard Moras lamented the fact that there has been increasing criticism of Christians that they indulge in conversion. These are mere rumours and far from true. Christians and their institutions have been rendering service to all irrespective of their religion or caste in the fields of education, health, communication and social service. Referring to the observation of one of the IAS officers, Archbishop Bernard Moras said that the officer in one of his interviews said that he had not come across any conversion activities by the Christians but only service activities.
The Superintendent of Police of Udupi District K.T. Balakrishna visited St Lawrence Basilica in the evening. In-Charge Minister of Udupi District. Pramod Madhwaraj, former minister and Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, State forest, environment minister Ramanath Rai and ex-MLA of Karkala Gopal Bhandary are expected to pay a visit to the Basilica later in the night.
The devotees of St Lawrence have been making their way to the Basilica to pay their homage to the ‘Saint of Miracles’ for the favours that they had received so far or to place their problems and afflictions in front of the saint. They burn the candles, make offerings, pay respect to the relic of the saint and even visit the ‘miracle pond’ Pushkarini.
