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Kundapur, June 13 : The Titular Feast of St Anthony was celebrated with great devotion, vigor and gaiety at St Anthony’s Shrine, Kerekatte near Siddapura here on 13^th June 2025.

After the distribution of candles for donors, the Rector of the Shrine, Very Rev Fr. Sunil Veigas, the Solemn High Mass was concelebrated by Bishop of Udupi Diocese Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo along with Very Rev Monsignor Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of Udupi diocese, Very Rev Fr. Stephen D’Souza Chancellor of Udupi diocese and around 26 priests of the Udupi diocese and neighboring dioceses of Shivmogga and Karwar.

In his hard hitting meaningful long homily, Very Rev Fr. Viresh Victor Moras, Chancellor of Shivmogga diocese dominated on the subject of main message of the feast that hopes with God never fails. He said yesterday, a plane crashed and many people died, so there are tragedies in our daily life, there is destruction of labour, disease, death, then we have a doubt whether there is a God, but all this inspires us to get into spirituality. Even if we rise a little higher in the life of this world, one day we will have to leave this world, we will have to prepare for it, if the troubles in our life are not removed, if the diseases are not removed, then you should not lose hope, God has promised us, everyone has different plans of hope in me, which you will get in heaven. You have come here trusting in Saint Anthony, that it may be found, but it may not be found, that it is not found, that such a request, knowing that it is not in God’s plan for us, we must be surrendered to God’s will and His plan in our life.  

After the mass, the Rector of the Shrine of St Anthony of Kerekatte Very Rev Fr. Sunil Veigas placed the announcement and words of gratitude to all concerned including Bishop, Vicar General, Dean of Kundapur Deanery Very Rev Fr Paul Rego, Very Rev Fr Viresh Victor Moras and other priests. He gave gratitude to all to celebrate the feast with grand success.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo distributed the decorated candles to the donors of above Rs. 2000 and later he gave a feast message. In his festive message Bishop conveyed best wishes of the titular feast of St Anthony. Bishop said St Anthony is a very influential saint, there is no limit to the miracles performed by him, he has a lot of devotees worldwide, St Anthony prays with a lot of faith in Jesus Christ, St Anthony had unique obedience, tolerance, humility, a poverty-stricken way of life. He was a great orator. Many of them have converted and returned to God, let us also inculcate the words of God and lead a good life, he said, adding that an orphanage in the name of St Anthony will be ready by the end of this year. One more project of constructing the new Church building in Kerekatte which present chapel not accommodated to huge devotees of St Anthony’s Shrine. On the graces of St Anthony of Kerekatte, the new project of constructing the church building will be possible. On the occasion, he prayed for peace to the departed souls and solace to the families of those killed in the plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Bishop conducted the prayer for St Anthony of Kerekatte and graced the blessings of relic of St Anthony after the novena prayers. The dean of Kundapur deanery Very Rev Fr. Paul Rego at the end thanked the Bishop and priests along with devotees at large for participating the festive mass on behalf of the deanery.

More than 5000 devotees were participated even though there was heavy rain yesterday in the festive mass on the Titular feast of St Anthony’s Shrine Kerekatte with vigor and grandeur faith today. The lunch was served to all the participants after the mass.