Grand celebrations at Milagres, Feast of Relic of Saint Anthony, February 15

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 16, 2019: The solemn Festive Holy Mass at Milagres Church grounds on February15,  marking the grand 121st  Feast of Relic of Saint Anthony in Mangaluru was presided over by Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore. The faithful as always thronged in large numbers and the devotion was indeed very edifying on this pleasant February evening.

Fr Cyril Lobo the resident priest at St Lawrence Church Bondel preached the homily on the theme ‘seek ye the kingdom of God first’. In his homily he said that those who live by 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 is one such person who 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 from decay during the past nine centuries. This is a great miracle God has done to Saint Anthony for the wonderful work he has done during his earthly life and as a message to his followers. Saint Anthony is a model and challenge to all of us to live a life that pleases God and serves the humanity.

Earlier during the day Fr Maxim D’Souza,  professor at St Joseph Seminary Jeppu offered Holy Mass for the elderly at Milagres Church in the morning. Msgr Maxim Noronha the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore offered Mass for the inmates and invitees at 11 a.m. at Jeppu Ashram and at 4.30 p.m. Fr Joy Puthenveettil from the Diocese of Allepy Kerala offer Mass in Malyalam at Milagres Church which was packed.

Thousands of devotees participated in the festive celebrations. Fr Onil D’Souza the director of St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu thanked all those who toiled and donated to make the celebration a success again this year.