Moily congratulates Attur shrine for status of Minor Basilica
Karkala: Former chief minister and present Chikkaballapur MP, Veerappa Moily visited Attur St Lawrence Shrine which was recently elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Francis.
Veerappa Moily, accompanied by his wife Malathi Moily, lit candles in the shrine and offered special prayers.
During his visit, Moily expressed his happiness on the status of Minor Basilica for the shrine by Pope Francis. He also congratulated the parish priest and parishioners.
Former Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary, Udupi district Congress vice-president Aveline R Louis, Block Congress president Sudhakar Kotian, Shrine Director Fr George D’Souza, Superior of the convent Sr Anvi, assistant parish priest of the shrine Fr Vijay, vice president of the church Richard Pinto, Valerian Pais, George Castelino Nakre and others were present.
About Minor Basilica
Among the churches of any diocese, the cathedral church holds the first place and the greatest dignity. In it is placed the cathedra, the sign of the Bishop’s teaching authority and power as pastor of the same diocese and the sign of communion with the Roman cathedra of St Peter. Next, there are the parish churches, which are the homes of the various communities of the diocese. In addition, there are shrines to which the Christian faithful of the diocese or of other local churches go on pilgrimage.
Among these churches and others of different categories are found some that have particular importance for liturgical and pastoral life. These may be honored by the Supreme Pontiff with the title of Minor Basilica, thereby signifying their particular link with the Roman catholic Church and the Supreme Pontiff.
In a Minor Basilica, the liturgical instruction of the faithful is to be promoted by establishing groups concerned with liturgical activity, by special courses of instruction given in a series of conferences, and by other programs of this kind. Among the special activities of a basilica, the study and popularization of documents coming from the Supreme Pontiff and the Holy See, especially those pertaining to the sacred liturgy may be specially mentioned.
In all, there are 21 Minor Basilicas in India, of which the most renowned are Vailankanni and Poondy in Tamil Nadu, Mount Mary in Mumbai and Bom Jesus in Old Goa. St Lawrence Minor Basilica is only the second Minor Basilica in Karnataka, after the renowned St Mary’s Minor Basilica, Shivajinagar, Bengaluru.
