St Lawrence Church & Shrine, Bondel to Celebrate Annual Feast on August 10

Theme: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
Feast Message: “Like St Lawrence, let us love and serve the poor.”

MANGALURU, July 24: St Lawrence Church & Shrine, Bondel, will celebrate the Annual Feast of its patron, St Lawrence, on Monday, August 10, 2026, with a series of spiritual, charitable and community-oriented programmes under the theme, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12) and the feast message, “Like St Lawrence, let us love and serve the poor.”

The details of the feast celebrations were announced during a press conference addressed by Rev. Fr. Basil Vas, Parish Priest and Shrine Rector; Rev. Fr. Peter Gonsalves, Principal of St Lawrence English Medium School; Rev. Fr. Lawrence Cutinha, Assistant Priest; Mr. John D’Silva, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council; Mr. Jason Fernandes, Media Convener; Mr. Elias Fernandes, Media Coordinator; and Mrs. Meena Barboza, Media Convener.

Swachhta Abhiyan on July 25

The celebrations will begin with a Swachhta Abhiyan (Cleanliness Campaign) on Saturday, July 25, jointly organised by the Environment Commission, Labour Commission and Social Development Commission of the parish. The campaign will be inaugurated by Dr G. Santosh Kumar, KAS, Project Director, District Urban Development Cell, Mangaluru, highlighting the parish’s commitment to environmental stewardship, cleanliness and community participation.

Hore Kanike Procession

The traditional Hore Kanike (Offering Procession) will be held on Sunday, July 26, at 4.30 p.m., beginning from the Mount Carmel School Grounds. The procession will be flagged off by P. V. Mohan, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council. Hundreds of devotees are expected to participate, offering gifts as an expression of faith and thanksgiving in preparation for the Annual Feast.

Medical Aid Fund

A special feature of this year’s celebrations is the launch of a Medical Aid Fund, inspired by the feast message. Devotees are invited to contribute generously towards providing medical assistance to the poor and the needy, continuing the charitable legacy of St Lawrence.

Nine-Day Novena

As a spiritual preparation for the feast, the Nine-Day Novena will be observed from August 1 to 9.

Each day will include:

• Morning Adoration: 10.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
• Holy Eucharist
• Novena Prayers
• Blessing with the Relic of St Lawrence
• Lunch for all devotees attending the morning service

The Evening Adoration will begin at 5.30 p.m., followed by the Solemn Holy Mass, Novena Prayers and Blessing with the Relic of St Lawrence. Blessed bread will be distributed after the evening Mass. Each day’s Eucharistic celebration will be offered for a special intention, praying for the spiritual, family and social needs of the faithful.

The Novena will commence with the ceremonial unfurling of the St Lawrence Flag on Saturday, August 1, at 10.00 a.m. by V. Rev. Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Vicar Forane of Mangalore City Varado and Parish Priest of Paldane, who will also be the principal celebrant of the inaugural Holy Eucharist.

Special Programmes

A Praise and Worship session led by Bro. Prakash will be held on Saturday, August 8, from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., followed by a special Healing Service from 6.45 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., including special prayers for children.

In a first for the Shrine, a Malayalam Holy Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, August 9, at 12 noon.

Principal Celebrants

The principal celebrants during the Novena and Feast are:

• August 8 (5.30 p.m.): Archbishop Emeritus Most Rev. Dr Bernard Moras
• August 9 (10.30 a.m.): Bishop Emeritus Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza
• August 9 (5.30 p.m.): Most Rev. Dr Ignatius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Bareilly
• August 10 (10.30 a.m.) – Solemn Festal Mass: Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore
• August 10 (5.30 p.m.) – Concluding Festal Mass: Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao, Bishop of Mysore

Pilgrim Facilities

Pilgrims visiting the Shrine throughout the Novena will have access to several facilities, including:

• Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual counselling
• Medical assistance and ambulance services by the Father Muller Medical Team
• Voter ID Help Desk
• Amcho Sandesh (Konkani monthly bulletin) stall by Catholic Sabha, Bondel Unit
• Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) service desk
• Daivik Amrich Pilgrimages guidance centre
• Religious articles stall
• Refreshment stalls managed by the Ladies Association, ICYM and YCS

Devotees are also invited to offer Mass intentions, make goodwill contributions in cash or kind, and share testimonies of favours received through the intercession of St Lawrence.

The liturgical celebrations are being organised under the leadership of Rev. Fr Basil Vas, Parish Priest and Shrine Rector, together with Mr Jason Fernandes, Convener of the St Lawrence Shrine Committee.

The parish extends a warm invitation to all devotees and people of goodwill to participate in the Annual Feast celebrations and experience God’s love through the intercession of St Lawrence.

“May St Lawrence, the miracle worker, intercede for us all. Inspired by his life, let us love and serve the poor and become instruments of God’s compassion, peace and hope.”