Saint Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu celebrates the feast of the Relic of Saint Anthony with grandeur and gaiety

News : Vincent Mascarenhas, Moodbidri

Photos: Stanely Bantwal

Mangluru, Feb. 15: Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the Bishop of Mangalore celebrated the Holy Eucharist in honour of the Relic of Saint Anthony at 6pm at Milagres Church grounds on 15th February 2016. The Relic(tongue) of Saint Anthony is still fresh even after eight centuries of the death of the Saint. The Relic is preserved in the Basilica of Saint Anthony at Padua in Italy.

The Bishop in his message called upon the people to use the gift of speech to encourage and enthuse fellow human beings and not to abuse it by hurtful speech. He also called upon the people present to be kind and merciful towards one another as the Catholic Church observes the year of mercy inaugurated by Pope Francis on 8th of December 2015.

28 priests joined for the  concelebration.  More than 4,000 people participated in the Holy Mass. The sponsors of the feast were honoured at the end of the Holy Mass with a special candle and Saint Anthony’s bread blessed by the Bishop was distributed to all the people gathered for the feast.

Earlier during the day at 11.30 am Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu the Vicar General of the diocese celebrated Holy Mass at the Institutes at Jeppu. The Institutes at Jeppu is a home for 400 destitute and they are looked after free of cost. Once a person joins the Ashram he/she becomes a member of Saint Anthony’s family. Along with the inmates of Ashram   100 special invitees participated in the celebration followed by lunch.