Report & Photos: Canara Communication Centre, Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 1: The spiritual fervour surrounding the Tredicina devotion in honour of St Anthony of Padua deepened on Sunday, June 1, as hundreds of faithful once again gathered at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, and at St Anthony Shrine, Milagres Church, Mangaluru, for the second day of the 13-day novena.
At the Milagres Church, the evening novena Mass was celebrated by Fr Vivian Nishanth Rodrigues, assistant director of St Anthony’s Charitable Institutions. Fr J B Crasta, director of the Institutions, and Fr Gilbert D’Souza concelebrated the Eucharist.
In his homily, Fr Vivian Rodrigues reflected on the theme of the day:
“Accompany the weak and witness the risen Lord’s ascension”, drawing inspiration from the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. He emphasised the Christian call to walk with the vulnerable and spiritually weak, helping them rise with hope just as Jesus ascended to the Father, lifting humanity with him.
Following the Mass, the novena prayers were led by Fr Vivian Rodrigues, invoking the powerful intercession of St Anthony and inviting the congregation to renew their faith and commitment to service.
Meanwhile, at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, Masses were held drawing large numbers of devotees. The Ashram continues to serve free lunch daily to those attending the novena Masses, fostering community and charity, values embodied by St Anthony.
Jubilee pilgrim centre
St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu, has also been recognised as one of the Jubilee Pilgrim Centres for the Year of Hope, declared by the Diocese of Mangalore in anticipation of the Jubilee Year 2025. Pilgrims visiting the Ashram during this period are invited to seek spiritual renewal, participate in the sacramental life of the Church, and engage in acts of mercy in the spirit of St Anthony.
Forthcoming events:
Triduum in preparation for the feast – June 10, 11 & 12
To spiritually prepare the faithful in the final days before the feast, a three-day Triduum will be observed:
• At St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
• At Milagres Church, Mangalore: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
These sessions will feature praise and worship, adoration, the Word of God, healing prayers, and spiritual talks, led by:
• Fr Basil Vas, Parish Priest, Vorkady
• Br Prakash D’Souza, leader of the Divine Mercy Konkani Charismatic Group, Bandra East, Mumbai
Novena Schedule (Daily until June 12):
• 6:00 am & 11:30 am: Masses at St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu
• 6:00 pm: Mass at St Anthony Shrine, Milagres Church
• Free lunch: Served to all devotees attending novena Masses at the Ashram
Annual feast celebrations – June 13:
St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu
• 6:00 am: Festal Mass celebrated by Fr Rohith D’Costa, director, DBCLC, Mangala Jyothi
• 10:30 am: Solemn Festal Mass presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop emeritus of Mangalore
Milagres Church, Mangaluru
• 8:00 am: Festal Mass by Msgr Maxim L Noronha, vicar general of the diocese
• 4:30 pm: Malayalam Mass by Saho Abraham, director, Mount Carmel, Kannur
• 6:00 pm: Solemn concelebrated Festal Mass presided over by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore
The faithful are warmly encouraged to join this sacred journey of prayer, compassion, and hope, inspired by the life and legacy of St Anthony of Padua.