Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala
Karkala, Jan 25: The annual feast of St Lawrence Minor Basilica is observed in the last week of January every year and this year too it will be celebrated with the theme “Am Holy so you also be Holy” from Sunday, January 27 till Thursday, January 31.
Round the clock development work is seen at the Basilica to fulfil the needs of devotees who visit this miraculous place on every day basis from across the globe. Basic facilities like widening of the approach roads to the Basilica, ample water supply, parking facilities, guest rooms, toilets etc. are constructed. With concrete slabs laid in front of the church hall, this year more space is made available on the church grounds.
Addressing media persons
Annoucement
File Photos
St Lawrence always stood with the poor and the needy. The Attur Basilica is famed for upholding its patron saint’s principles with humanitarian works and service to society.
During the annual feast till 1994, the beggars asked devotees who visited the St. Lawrence Shrine for alms. After looking into the guidelines issued by the government, the then ASP Prathap Reddy requested to Church authorities to discourage the practice.
Since 1995, considering the request made by the officials, the church authorities tried to dissuade beggars, but instead started collecting donations for them in the boxes which were kept on church grounds. Whatever collection was raised during the feast time, on the Friday of the same week along with the food packets were distributed among them. When this practice began, the number of beggars helped were around 150 but as years passed the numbers increased. During the feast last year, around 3,500 beggars were helped with the donations collected.
The beggars were brought in lorries on Wednesday and Thursday and after they collected the donation on Friday of the festival week, they were taken back to their places.
This year on January 5, SI of Karkala rural has issued a letter to church authorities which states that begging is increasing in Karnataka. The Home Department taking into consideration a report made by the Women and Child Welfare committee under its 23rd report, has issued a circular to all the police stations directing that begging has to stop. If anyone comes across people begging, then such people will be taken to refugee camps near to the city. If any official has failed to control begging, then the local station head will be held responsible for this issue.
Developement works
As a result, the church authorities which abides by the laws, rules and regulations of the government has decided to stop collecting donations for beggars and also stop the programme which was held on the Friday of the festive week.
However, as poor and needy are the wealth of St Lawrence, the church authorities will not stop its outreach efforts.
Instead of collecting the funds or distributing the food on Friday, the donations collected in boxes will be utilised to help people who suffer health issues and are facing financial constraints. However, the people who need help need to submit documentation which will be placed before the committee and decision will be taken on helping the person. “This will be a continuous process at the Basilica,” says rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica Fr George D’Souza while speaking exclusively to Daijiworld.com.
About this year’s festival from Sunday, Jan 27 to Thursday, Jan 31
The theme of this year’s feast is “Am holy so you also be holy”. The feast which will begin on Sunday, January 27 to Thursday, January 31 will have 35 Mass in Konkani and 11 mass in Kannada.
On Sunday, January 27, special prayers will be held for children and Mangalore diocese bishop emeritus Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza will preside over the special mass at 5 pm.
On Monday, January 28, special prayers for sick, elders will be conducted and Dr Robert Miranda, bishop, diocese of Gulbarga will preside over the special mass at 10.00 am and 3.30 pm. On this day, if any sick and elderly people want confession and communion, special arrangements will be made to attend people near their vehicle itself. First two days of the feast, vehicle can be taken to the church grounds.
On Tuesday, January 29, Dr Peter Machado, Arch Bishop, Diocese of Bangalore will be presiding over the festival mass at 6 pm.
On Wednesday, January 30, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha will preside over the festival mass at 10.30 am and in the evening at 5.30 pm. Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop, diocese of Beltangady will preside over the mass in Kannada.
On Thursday, January 31, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi will be presiding over festival mass in Konkani. During five days, round the clock arrangements for confession service have been done by the priests.
Daijiworld.com will bring the live web streaming of these masses.
Facility developments that are done in Attur Basilica in the past six years
The road approach to Basilica Doopadakatte – Attur – Kabettu stretch was very narrow. During the annual feast, because of the huge crowd, many people used to misuse the situation and used to misbehave with women and girls. Also, because of the narrow road, the movement of vehicle was a hassle and tough to handle. Sufficient parking space was not available, due to which, hours of traffic block used to occur during the annual feast. Hundreds of police personnel, who were deployed at the venue to look after the security measures, had no shelter to take rest or washrooms to attend nature's call. In the church premises, due to lack of space, many people lost their money, gold and other valuable things. During the feast, more than 500 priests visit the shrine to offer various services and they used to face lack of basic facilities.
To overcome all the above issues, since the past six years, various development works have taken place. The road approach to Basilica from Doopadakatte – Attur – Kabettu stretch is widened and double road is made with divider with the help of the elected people's representative. Now, due to the sufficient space, some of the issues are brought under control. The vehicles can move smoothly and sufficient parking space nearest to the Basilica is possible now.
For the priests, who visit during the annual feast and throughout the year, rest rooms have been built for their basic needs.
Washrooms and bathrooms near the hall and in front of the church have been built for the use of devotees. There are washrooms that are built in such a way that even elderly and sick people can access them easily.
To overcome the water issue, the current Church well is widened and stone construction is done. At four points, in the premises of the church, pure drinking water facility is installed that can be used throughout the year. With the help of the Karnataka state government drinking water storage tank of nearly 4.5 lac litre is constructed on the Hill.
On the left side of the church sufficient space is created.
In front of the church hall, new Basement 1 and Basement 2 commercial and parking facilities are under construction and at the top, sufficient space will be available for the smooth flow of the devotees and traffic during the annual feast.
In front of the Church Gate Facing road Side 10 Ft height Grantie Statue of St. Lawrence Will be installed at the height of 15 Ft.
New concrete road is built at the other side of the church, which goes through the hill to Kuntalpady power station. This road will be used for the access of those, who have the vehicle passes.
Sufficient parking area is being built by levelling the Hill at Parpall. Also the trees are planted to provide sufficient shade during the day time.
At the church Hill, Rosary Park and 14 stations of Way of the Cross will be built in the coming days. Which will have the capacity of Nearly 5,000 devotees can be accommodated at a time for prayer service at this venue.
Behind the church, the work is going on for six-story building in which 85visitor’s rooms. Hall for Confessions are going to come in the coming years.
Nearly 64 CCTV cameras are installed for security purpose. Suffienct arrangements of light is done during the night.
After a long time New BSNL Tower has been installed at the Basilica which was the very essential at the place.
From the recent past years, the annual feast days are increased to five from the earlier three. Due to change of time, the number of devotees that visit the basilica is increased three folds. To service the needs of these devotees many works have been started.
Main intention of the administration of the basilica is to send the devotees back with peace and happiness. All this will be possible if we, the Atturities, will work hand in hand with on mind and heart. Then the pride of the parishioners will increase as the devotees will laud our efforts.
Arrangements
For the safety of devotees nearly 64 CCTV cameras have been installed in premises. Pure drinking water facilities will be arranged in the premises. For the security reasons, control room, additional police force, reserve police, fire trucks, medical emergency outlet will be installed.
This year the church Authorities has requested the Local NittePanchyath to build the toilets and bathrooms for the working man in the nearly 600 stalls which are issued by the Panchayath during the 5 days festival time which will help more than 4000.
For More information Contact:
The Director
St Lawrence Minor Basilica
Attur, Karkala
Udupi District, Karnataka
India - 576 117
Ph.: 0091 8258 298232
Email: stlawrencebasilicaattur@gmail.com