Bangalore Archdiocese

News by: Anvita D'Cunha
Photos by: Stanly Bantwal

Mysuru, June 14 : The Annual Feast of World Renowned St Anthony of Dornahalli 2023 was celebrated on 13 June 2023.

On the feast day , which was on Tuesday , masses were held from morning 5am upto 5.30pm.

The Festive Eucharistic Celebration was celebrated in Kannada at 10am by Most Rev.Dr.Bernard Moras , Apostolic Administrator , Diocese of Mysore  and Rev.Fr. Clifford , Secretary of Bishop, preached the sermon . Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph - Rector, St. Antony's Basilica, Dornahalli, Rev Fr. Praveen Pedru - Administrator, St. Antony's Basilica, Rev.Fr Julian - Vice Rector ,St. Antony's Basilica, Rev.Msgr. Alfred J Mendonca - Vicar general , Diocese of Mysore, Rev.Fr James Dominic - Financial Administrator , Diocese of Mysore, Rev.Fr Joseph Palciya Roy - Chancellor ,  Diocese of Mysore , Rev.Fr. Bernard Prakash Barnis - Rector ,St Philomena's college , Rev.Fr. Madali Muthu , Procurator of education board , were present as co-celebrants.

At 5am the mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph ,Rector, St. Anthony's Basilica, Dornahalli , at 6am by Rev. Fr. Sanjay Kumar Administrator, St. Joseph's Hospital, Mysuru , at 7am by Rev. Fr. Edward William Saldanha ,Parish Priest, St. Mary's Church, H. D. Kote , at 8am by Rev. Fr. Chinnappa ,Parish Priest, Mother of Humanity Church, Mandya, at 11.30am by Rev. Fr. Vincent M, Parish Priest, O.L of Perpetual Succor Church, Srirampura , at 1.00 pm by Rev. Fr. Valentine R. Kumar ,Parish Priest, Holy Family Church, Hinkal , at 3.00pm by Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam ,Parish Priest, O. L. of Presentation Church, Mariamangalam , at 4.00pm by Rev. Fr. George Deepak ,Parish Priest, St. Michael's Church, Madikeri ,  at 5.30pm by Rev. Fr. Michael Mari A. Parish Priest, St. Joseph's Church, Siddapura ,which was followed by the Car Procession and Benediction of the Holy Eucharist. Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph ,Rector, St. Anthony's Basilica, Dornahalli thanked everyone for their support and cooperation.

Mr. Ravi Shankar , MLA of K.R Nagar also paid a visit to the St. Anthony's Basilica.

Lacs of Devotees took part in the eucharistic celebrations throughout the day.

The Annual Feast of St Anthony Basilica Dornahalli 2023 was a great success with the help of local leaders , benefactors and devotees.

Brief history of the Miraculous Statue of St Anthony : 

Around 220 years ago, a farmer while tilling his field, found a wooden statue which was found to have miraculous powers. In the days to come, it was revealed that it was the statue of St. Anthony of Padua. Devotees started visiting this place in large numbers and obtained great favors.

In order to facilitate the devotees to pray and show their reverence to St. Anthony, a small shrine was built in the year 1920, by the Parish priest Rev. Fr. S. D’Silva with the generosity and help of the erstwhile Dewan at the Mysore Palace, Shri Thambu Chetty, and his brother Shri Dharmaraj Chetty.

In the years to come, the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine because of the miracles taking place increased manifold, it was then decided to construct a spacious and beautiful church by the then Parish Priest Very. Rev. Fr. I. H. Lobo, and hence construction started in 1964. The newly constructed, spacious, beautiful church was blessed and inaugurated on the 13th of June, 1969 by His excellency Most. Rev. Dr. Matthias Fernandez, who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Mysore.

On the 17th of October, 2019, by the Divine blessings of The Almighty, the Church was granted the status of “Minor Basilica” by His Holiness Pope Francis which is a matter of great joy to all  the Devotees.

On 9th June 2020, Most Rev. Dr. K. A. William Bishop of Mysore Officially announced the Minor Basilica and  Offered the Thanksgiving Mass.

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