Shrine to get Minor Basilica status on Aug 1

Pope Francis’ step of elevating the St Lawrence Shrine at Attur-Karkala into a ‘Minor Basilica’ through a decree on April 26, 2016 was a feather in the cap of the Udupi diocese.

Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Udupi Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo said the proclamation and dedication of the Shrine as a Minor Basilica will take place at 10 am on August 1 on the Shrine premises. This historic event will declare the Shrine as a sanctuary of blessings, favours, reconciliation, peace, and communal harmony.

Four cardinals of India, many archbishops, bishops, priests and people from Udupi, Mangalore and neighbouring dioceses will participate in this mega event. Stating that more than 10,000 devotees are expected to take part in the ceremony, the bishop said that the Holy Eucharist would begin at 10 am.

In the public function, which is scheduled to begin at 11.45 am, Minister for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology B Ramanatha Rai, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D’Souza and former Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary will participate.

Starting point

Stating that the process of obtaining the title ‘Minor Basilica’ could last from a few months to a few years, the Bishop said that in the case of Attur-Karkala, the title has been obtained within one-and-a-half months from the day the proposal was sent to Vatican through the Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev Salvatore Pennacchio.

“This is an indicator which amply exhibits that the fame and name of the Shrine spread beyond Indian borders,” he said and added that there are 22 in ‘Minor Basilicas’ in India.

Elaborating on the eligibility criteria, the Bishop said that, a church for which the title of basilica is proposed, must have been dedicated to God by a liturgical rite and must stand out as a centre of active and pastoral liturgy, especially through celebrations of the Eucharist, of penance, and of the other sacraments, which celebrations set an example for others on account of their preparation and realisation according to liturgical norms. The church should be of an appropriate size and with a sufficiently large sanctuary.

The historical value or importance of the church and the worthiness of its art are also considered, so that, as the liturgical year progresses, the celebrations of the various seasons may be carried out in a praiseworthy manner, wherein a fitting number of priests are necessary.

They are to be assigned to the liturgical and pastoral care of the church, especially for the celebration of the Eucharist and penance. There should also be an appropriate number of confessors who at stated hours are available to the faithful, the Bishop added.