Pics: Stanly Bantwal
Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 16: The feast of Relic of Saint Anthony was celebrated here on Friday, February 15.
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the emeritus bishop of Mangaluru diocese, celebrated the festive Mass at 6 pm at Milagres Church grounds.
Fr Cyril Lobo, the resident priest at St Lawrence Church Bondel, preached the homily on the theme ‘Seek the kingdom of God first’. He said that those who live by the material wealth of this world live till the material world lasts. But those who put their trust in God and believe in Him live to eternity.
“Saint Anthony lived according to the will of God and went about preaching the word of God and healing people in the name of Jesus. God in turn has preserved his tongue during the past nine centuries without being decayed. This is a great miracle God has done to Saint Anthony for the wonderful work he has done during his earthly life. Saint Anthony is a model and challenge to all of us to live a life that pleases God and serves the humanity,” he said.
Earlier during the day Fr Maxim D’Souza, the professor at St Joseph Seminary Jeppu, offered Mass for the elderly at Milagres Church at 8 am. Msgr Maxim Noronha, the vicar general of the diocese offered Mass for the inmates and invitees at 11 am at Jeppu ashram. At 4.30 pm, Fr Joy Puthenveettil from the diocese of Allepy Kerala offered Mass in Malayalam at Milagres Church.
Thousands of devotees participated in the festive celebration. Fr Onil D’Souza, the director of St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu, thanked all those who toiled and donated to make the celebration successful.
Prayer service held for the CRPF Jawans
A prayer service for the CRPF Jawans killed in the terror attack in Kashmir was also held during the occasion.
The prayer service was conducted soon after the Mass celebrated in honour of relic of St Anthony.
Fr Onil D’Souza led the prayer service. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, twenty priests and more than four thousands of devotees of Saint Anthony participated in the prayer service with lighted candles.
The sorrowing family members of deceased and those wounded in the attack were also remembered in the prayer service.