Location :
Kerekatte is a remote village just at the intersection of Hosangady and Siddapura road. From Udupi, it is 60 kms and from Kundapura it is 35 kms on the way to Hulikal-Ghat and Shimoga. The Brahmavar- Barkur route via Halady also leads there.
Just before taking up the steep heights of Balebare Ghats, the road passes through Kerekatte. As we pass by that way, suddenly we find an imposing statue of St Anthony facing a small shrine on the left side.
History :
The story goes back to the beginning of Christian presence in this region. Some 400 years ago, Christianity from Goa began to spread in the Coastal Konkan region.
It is said that more than 300 years ago in this remote village of Kerekatte, a farmer, while ploughing his field found a small wooden statue of St Anthony. Though he and the local people were non-Christians, they began to venerate this statue. Rev Fr Joseph Vaz (now Saint) visited this place in 1684 and placed the statue in a new thatched hut, for public veneration. Thus started the devotion to St Anthony in Kerekatte. Many people, especially commuters, cart and vehicle drivers began to visit the shrine to pray and to pay their tribute to St Anthony. The quiet revolution that started almost three centuries ago continues even now with a steady flow of devotees.
In the last 50 years, there has been much increase in the number of devotees visiting Kerekatte. In 1940-41 , Bishop Victor Fernandes permitted the building of a modest structure for a shrine ('gudi') for the statue of St Anthony. He also entrusted this Shrine to the care of Rev. Fr Aloysius Rosario, the then parish priest of Basrur. Fr Placid Pereira built a prayer hall with tiled roof for Mass in 1967.
Fr Joe Mary Shenoy is responsible for renovating this sub-station and erecting a 13 feet high statue of St Antony on March 15, 1977 under the guidance of Bishop Basil S. D'Souza. A local stone sculptor carved this statue which was erected facing the road and the Shrine.
The successive parish priests of Basrur along with the Shrine committee, have worked for the improvement of this Shrine and provided better facilities for the pilgrims.
The recent restructuring of the Shrine premises by levelling the ground and putting up a permanent stage for conducting the open-air Holy Mass and thereafter the reshaping of the Shrine is the fruit of the work of the parish priest, Rev. Fr Xavier Pinto and the Shrine committee who carried out the work from 2007-2010, thanks to the generous donors and benefactors who sponsored it. Most Rev. Dr Aloysius P. D'Souza, the then Bishop of Mangalore himself blessed this renewal work.
Inauguration of Newly built Shrine of St. Antony :
On 15th February 2010, the then Bishop of Mangalore, Dr. Aloysius P D’Souza blessed and inaugurated the enlarged and newly built shrine of St. Antony at Kerekatte followed by solemn feast Mass at 10.30 am. Following the feast mass and a brief function to felicitate the previous and present parish priests of Basrur parish, the caretakers of the shrine, nearly 12,000 devotees were provided free lunch.
Fr. Xavier Pinto, the parish priest of St. Philip Neri Church, Basrur and also the Director of St. Antony’s Shrine, Kerekatte was lauded for working hard to develop the pilgrim centre like providing facilities to the pilgrims, erecting a bell tower, building a prayer house and a canopy over the monolith statue of St. Antony.
St Antony's, Kerekatte officially proclaimed shrine :
St Antony's, Kerekatte was officially proclaimed as a shrine during the annual feast of Padua on June 13, 2013.
The grand celebration of the festal mass began at 10.30 am. The mass was celebrated by Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore, concelebrants were Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi; Dr Robert M Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga; Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop of Belthangady; Dr Mar Joseph Arumachadath, Bishop of Bhadravati and other priests.
During the holy celebration, Monsignor Baptist Menezes, vicar general, Udupi Diocese proclaimed the St Antony Kerekatte as the holy shrine for Udupi Diocese.
Thousands of devotees participated with great devotion in this special occasion.
After the mass, a felicitation programme was held where Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi felicitated Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore for his contribution to Kerekatte shrine.
Golden jubilee celebration of St Anthony Shrine :
The golden jubilee and annual feast of St Antony Shrine was celebrated with pomp and gaiety on June 13, 2018. Dr Bernard Moras, former archbishop of Bangalore archdiocese offered the festive Mass.
Udupi diocese Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Udupi diocese chancellor Fr Stany Lobo, Kundapur vicar forane Fr Stany Tauro, Kerekatte church parish priest Fr Xavier Pinto and priests from Kundapur and Udupi diocese were the concelebrants of the Mass.
Dr Bernard Moras and Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo blessed the new belfry of the church and inaugurated it before the Mass. Relic of St Anthony was also installed at the shrine on the occasion.
Kerekatte pilgrim centre director Fr Xavier Pinto, who has been serving the church for the last 15 years and Dr Bernard Moras, who visited the centre for the first time and offered Mass were felicitated in a programme held after the Mass.
Feast , Mass and Novena :
The feast of St Antony is celebrated twice (February and June) in a year at the shrine. Special Mass Ceremony and Novena is being held every Tuesday at the shrine followed by lunch. Thousands of devotees from all corners visit the shrine, participate in the mass and offer prayers.
Parish Priests who have served at the shrine :
- Rev. Fr Xavier Pinto (2004-2011 - Parish Priest Basrur & Director of St Antony shrine)
- Rev. Fr Xavier Pinto (2011- 20 July 2021 - Parish Priest & Rector, St Antony shrine)
- Rev. Fr Sunil Joseph Veigas (from 20 July 2021 onwards)
Compiled by Catholic Time Staff
Last updated in Dec 2021
Related links :
- About St. Antony’s Shrine, Kerekatte
- History of St. Philip Neri Church, Basrur
- 14-06-2018 - Kundapur: Grand ceremony marks golden jubilee of St Anthony Shrine, Kerekatte
- 16-02-2018 - Relic feast of St Antony Celebrated at Kerekatte
- 13-06-2013 - St Antony's, Kerekatte officially proclaimed shrine
- 16-02-2010 - Newly built shrine of St. Antony at Kerekatte blessed and inaugurated
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