Hoisting of Religious Flag, St Anthony’s Ashram Gearing Up for the Big Feast on 13 June
Mangaluru :The annual feast of St Anthony of Padua will be celebrated on the 13th of June. The Saint Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu whose Patron is Saint Anthony is in preparation mood. Tredecina (thirteen days novena) began today, 31st of May. Devotees of St Anthony in large numbers as always attended the first day of the novena. As a remote preparation for the feast the Triduum (three days novena) will be held at Milagres Church at 6 p.m. from 10th to 12th June.
Rev Dr Ronald Serrao the Rector of St Joseph Seminary hoisted the St Anthony’s flag at St Anthony’s Grotto at St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu at 11.15 am on Friday 31 May and there afterwards he celebrated the Holy Mass at the Ashram Chapel Jeppu. Fr Onil, the Director of St Anthony’s Institutions held prayers and novena prior to the Eucharistic Mass. The thirteen days novena which will be held every day at 11.30 a.m. at Anthony’s Chapel Jeppu includes Rosary, Holy Mass and novena followed by lunch. The main festive Holy Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha the Bishop of Mangaluru on 13th June at Milagres Church, Hampankatta, Mangaluru.
This year the Devotion to St Anthony steps into its 121st year. To mark this occasion the Director along with his team has planned activities related to St Anthony’s Devotion and Charity Works. After hoisting the flag, Rev Dr Ronald Serrao in his address to the gathering said, “St Anthony gave importance to the teachings of Christ and followed in His teachings, therefore as faithful, we also need to do the same. While celebrating this feast we need to also think of the less fortunate and contribute part of our wealth towards those who are in need. During the forthcoming days, you can put forth your favours, and St Anthony will surely grant them, what you asked”.
Fr Serrao further said that St Anthony was born in Lisbon of Portugal but he served in Padua of Italy. There are two things the devotees of St Anthony should pick from the life of St Anthony i.e. importance to the Word of God. Saint Anthony preached the Word of God and thus inspired many people to live a holy life. Secondly he performed many miracles. Through these miracles he reached to the people in need. As devotees of Saint Anthony we too need to practice these virtues, he said. Later at 12 noon Fr Serrao offered the Holy Mass for the intention of youth and preached a homily.
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 everyday he performs a number of miracles for his devotees. Saint Anthony’s Charity Institutes, Jeppu is a living proof to 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.
At the flag hoisting ceremony, Fr Roshan D’souza and Fr Thrishan D’souza- bot Assistant directors of the Ashram were present, among the large faithful who had gathered.
