Vehicle Rally & Flag Hoisting mark the Beginning of Feast of Relic of St Anthony
Mangaluru: In preparation for the Big Annual Feast of Relic of Saint Anthony, the Nine-Day novena began on 6 February, prior to the Feast Day celebrated on 15 February.
These Nine days of Novena are dedicated to different groups of people like-youth, children, married people, sick, elderly, religious, leaders etc. Special prayers will be offered for these various groups of people. Renowned priests will be invited to celebrate Holy Mass and preach the homily on the theme marked according to the group dedicated to the day. The choir groups from nine different parishes will lead the singing on nine days of Novena.
The Mark the beginning of the Feast, a vehicle rally was taken from St Anthony’s Ashram-Jeppu via Kankanady-Falnir Road and culminating at Milagres Church, Hampankatta-Mangaluru. Before the flag off of the vehicle rally, Fr Onil D’Souza-the Director of St Anthony Charity Institutions offered prayers, and 96-year-old Joe Gonsalves-the Chief Traffic Warden, and also an ardent devotee of St Anthony flagged off the vehicle rally, comprising off two-wheelers and four-wheelers. A decorated Saint Anthony’s Statue was taken in the procession on an open-jeep.
The inauguration of the nine-day novena pertaining to the Feast of St Anthony by hoisting Saint Anthony’s Shrine flag at Our Lady of Miracles Church Milagres-Mangaluru was done by Rev Fr Franklin D’Souza, the director of Family Counselling Centre- Shivamogga, and celebrate the inaugural Mass at Milagres Church. Fr Franklin spoke offered the Holy Mass for the intention of Religious who are working for the Kingdom of God in various parts of the World. In his homily, Fr Franklin said that the Religious are the co-workers of Jesus Christ who have dedicated themselves to His cause. Following the mass, the Novena was conducted in honour of Saint Anthony during which intentions of the people for various needs were placed before the great intercessor.
Fr Valerian D’Souza, the Parish Priest of Milagres Church, Fr Edwin Monis-Assistant Parish priest of Milagres Church Fr Onil D’Souza, the director of the Institutes, Fr Francis D’Souza, administrator of the Institutes and hundreds of people participated in the first day of the Novena. The main festive Holy Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza on 15th February at 6 pm at Milagres Church ground. A Holy Mass in Malayalam will be celebrated by Most Rev Dr Varghese Chakkalakal Bishop of Calicut at 430 pm at Milagres Church. For the sake of sick and elderly a Holy Mass will be offered by Very Rev. Dr Pius D’Souza, Episcopal Vicar for Religious at 8.15 am at Milagres Church. Rt Rev. Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu the Vicar General of the diocese will offer Holy Mass at 11 am at St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu for the invitees and special invitees.
Saint Anthony who lived in the thirteenth century, and after his death his tongue which is still fresh, is kept at Padua in Italy where he did most of his pastoral ministry. Saint Anthony is revered all over the world is invoked specially to find the lost articles. Saint Anthony is known for his thirteen miracles. But every day he performs a number of miracles for his devotees. Saint Anthony’s Charity Institutes, Jeppu is a living proof of his miracles. Saint Anthony provides shelter and peaceful living at the Institutes to four hundred destitute who are unwanted in the society. If this is not a miracle what else is? Saint Anthony does this miracle through his devotees. Everyone is welcome to join hands in carrying forward this miracle.
At this ashram, Saint Anthony’s solidarity has reached out to those who need it most. Although St Anthony has left the world with a great legacy of teachings and has set the priests a glorious example of charity, of what it means to be there for the poorest of the poor. The Priests and the management at St Anthony’s Charity Institutes are daily engaged in the task of practicing this great mission which the Saint has enjoined upon them: to spread the Gospel and to practice Charity.
Thank you, Fr. Oniel, for organizing the nine day Novena in honor of St. Anthony. We had no idea that St. Anthony belonged to the thirteenth century, and we also did not know that His tongue is still preserved in Padua, Italy. We have learned something new today, although ignorance is not an excuse. St. Anthony has done so many favors for us. The inmates of St. Anthony are praying for our needs, and their prayers are heard most of the time. St. Anthony’s has always been a favorite place for us. St. Anthony has helped us on so many… Read more »