Mangaluru: Votive procession held at St Lawrence Shrine - Bondel ahead of annual feast on Aug 10

By Stany Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 31 Jul 2022: The votive procession was held at St Lawrence Church, Bondel, here on Sunday July 31, on account of the annual feast of patron saint on August 10.

 

Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, Bondel parish priest welcomed the gathering.

 

Sophia D’Souza, Bondel parishioner from St Theresa (Little Flower) ward flagged off the votive procession at Mount Carmel Central School ground, Mary Hill and culminated at the St Lawrence Church premises, with Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza receiving the offerings.

 

 

Upon flagging off the procession, Sophia said, ‘St Lawrence Shrine is not only for Christians. It is the devotion center for people of all religions. It is a center of communal harmony.’

 

Fr Peter Gonsalves, principal of St Lawrence English Medium School, conducted the prayer service.

 

Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, Fr Lancy D’Souza, assistant parish priest, Sr Melissa D’Silva, principal of Mount Carmel Central School, Fr Melvyn D’Souza, MSIJ, Fr Vipin Betharam, Reginald D’Souza, vice president of Bondel parish council, Steven Noronha, secretary, Prakash Pinto, convener Shrine Committee, Wilfred Alvares, convener of votive procession, Stany Alvares, convener of Publicity Committee, parishioners and non-Catholics devotees of St Lawrence were present.

 

 

On all the days of devotion this year, starting from August 1, 2022 and ending with the feast on August 10, 2022, devotees will be offered lunch from 1st Aug to 9th Aug and blessed bread in the evenings.

 

The colorful offertory procession witnessed participation of many faithful, and comprised  offertory items to be used for the noon meals that will be served on all the novena days donated by various donors of the city. Devotees from various churches, and local organizations of different communities brought offerings in decorated vehicles. The parishioners from all wards dressed traditionally to symbolise the original tradition of the community, gathered ward by ward with their wide variety of gifts. The occasion and the ceremony reflected and celebrated the unity amongst all the community members and the neighbouring areas.

 

On the occasion of feast, the church and its surroundings are decorated with lights by the Shrine committee and various organizations contributed their offerings during votive procession. The votive procession was compered by Stany Alvares.