Large number of People throng Attur Basilica as Annual Feast Concludes

Karkala: A large number of people visited the two-and-a-half centuries old St Lawrence Shrine and offered prayers as the five-day annual feast of the shrine concluded here on Thursday.

Devotees lit candles in front of the statue of St Lawrence. The feast of “Our Lady of Wayfarers” was celebrated on the occasion. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, conducted the mass in Konkani at 10:00 am. A large number of devotees participated in the mass.

In his homily, Bishop Gerald said, “Though the world has witnessed great achievements in various fields, it has failed to provide the basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing to a large population. Society should strive to provide basic necessities to all the people, especially for the poor and needy”.

There were 10 masses on the last day of the festivities of St Lawrence Basilica of which 3 were in the Kannada language. A large number of devotees of St Lawrence were present for the masses. Fr Joseph Martis, Rector of St Joseph’s Seminary as well as other priests offered the masses and delivered homilies. The main festive mass of the day in honour of Our Lady of Guide at 10:00 am was offered by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo along with a number of other priests which was attended by a multitude of devotees.

The MLA of Moodbidri and former minister of the Karnataka Government Abhayachandra Jain, former MLA of Karkala, Gopal Bhandary and many other dignitaries paid a respectful visit to the Basilica.

The Beggars Day will be held on Friday, January 26. Two large donation boxes have been placed in two different places at the shrine premises for the devotees to make their cash donations.

The donations made by the devotees would be removed from the two boxes and distributed to the beggars after the meals in the shrine’s premises on Friday.