Third Day of St Lawrence Basilica Festivities Witnesses Devout Participation
The third day of the annual festivities at St Lawrence Basilica, Attur, witnessed a moderate gathering of the faithful, as it was a working day. Devotees participated prayerfully in the Holy Eucharist across the day, following which many visited the various stalls set up within and outside the Basilica campus. Special prayers over the sick were offered after all the Masses.
Choirs from neighboring parishes enriched the liturgy by rendering melodious hymns during the Eucharistic celebrations. Several priests were available in the confessional, hearing the confessions of thousands of penitents who sought spiritual renewal and reconciliation.
A cherished tradition at the shrine draws pilgrims to a small quadrangle pond. According to belief, Missionaries, after a long journey, drank water from this well and rested nearby. Upon waking, they found that the statue of St Lawrence placed there would not move, prompting them to build a church at this site. This Church later grew into a Shrine and was eventually elevated to the status of a Basilica. Even today, devotees visit the well and throw coins as a sign of faith.
The Masses were celebrated by several priests, including Fr Praveen Aranha, SVD (Vidyanikethan, Mysore), Fr Clifford Fernandes (Parish Priest, Cordel), Fr Sunil Rodrigues (Parish Priest, Mudigere, Chikkamagaluru), Fr Melroy D’Silva, OFM Cap. (Bejai), Fr Leo Praveen D’Souza (Assistant Parish Priest, Udupi), Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado (Secretary, CBE, Mangaluru), Fr Alwyn D’Souza (Parish Priest, Sakleshpur, Chikkamagaluru), Fr Leslie Clifford D’Souza (Parish Priest, Shirva), and Fr Vishal Monis (Parish Priest, Kayyar).
The main solemn Mass was presided over by Most Rev. Dr Louis Mascarenhas, Bishop of Allahabad. In his soul-stirring homily, he emphasized the call to love as Christ loved, urging the faithful to share their gifts, talents, and resources with the last, the least, and the lost in society.
Following the Eucharist, the faithful lit candles and anointed themselves with blessed oil. Devotees from other faith traditions also received flowers as a token of blessing, reverently touched to the feet of the miraculous statue of St Lawrence.As many as 200 volunteers and
100 police personnel oversaw discipline in and around the church premises.
Dignitaries such as Ramanath Rai, Vinaya Kumar Sorake, Padmaraj Hegde, Dinesh Hegde, Pius Rodrigues, and several others visited the Basilica, sought the blessings of Bishop Gerald Isaac and other priests, lit candles, and wished the devotees a happy and blessed feast.