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Celebrations announced for the feast of St. Anthony at Jeppu Ashram

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Mangaluru: St. Anthony’s Ashram, Jeppu will hold Tredecina (thirteen days Novena) from May 31 in preparation for the annual feast to be celebrated on June 13. The prayers including Rosary, Adoration, Holy Mass and Novena will be held at 11 AM at the Jeppu Ashram, disclosed Director of the Ashram Fr. Onil D’Souza on May 30.

As an immediate preparation for the feast, a Triduum will be held for three days beginning from June 10 at the Milagres Church at 6 PM. It will start with flag hoisting at 5.30 PM on June 10.

As the shrine completes 120 years, this year’s feast will be celebrated on two days, i.e., June 12 and June 13.

Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, the Bishop Emeritus of Bengaluru who had served the Ashram from 1968 to 1970 as an Assistant Director will be the main celebrant of the Holy Mass on June 12. Other priests who served the Ashram in the past will be concelebrating the Holy Mass on that day, informed Director of the Ashram Fr. Onil D’Souza. Besides this, there will be Holy Masses at Milagres Church (8.15 AM in Konkani, 5 PM in Malayalam) and the Ashram (11 AM).

June 13 being the feast day, Bishop of Mangalore Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza will preside over the Holy Mass at 10.30 AM at the Ashram, followed by the blessing of the foundation stone for a new 100-bed facility to serve the mentally ill. “Saint Anthony the Miracle Worker”, a short play written and directed by John M Permannur, created by Vincent Fernandes of Mogachi Lara fame will be staged on the occasion.

Holy masses will be held at Milagres Church (8.15 AM in Konkani, 5 PM in Malayalam) and the Ashram (11 AM) on June 13 also. The main festive Holy Mass at Milagres Church at 6 PM will be celebrated by Bishop Aloysius D’Souza.

During the press meet, Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza released the “Miracles of Saint Anthony”, a souvenir published in celebration of completion of 120 years.

Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Fr. Onil D’Souza, Fr. Francis D’Souza, Fr. Peter Gonsalves, Fr. Trishan D’Souza and Vincent Mascarenhas, Secretary of Diocesan Media Committee were present at the press conference.

Brief history of St. Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu

It was on June 12, 1898 that Msgr. Michael Placid Colaco, the then assistant parish priest of Milagres Church started Novena prayer to St. Anthony. On the following day was the feast of St. Anthony. A large number of people from around Mangalore gathered for the feast. Since then, on every Tuesday, Novena has been held in honour of St. Anthony at the Shrine Altar at Milagres Church. People, irrespective of caste and creed, come to St. Anthony in their need and he never sends them back empty handed. The Saint is specially invoked when things are lost. It is believed that when things are lost and if Saint Anthony’s help is sought, the lost things are found. It has been testified in a number of cases by the devotees.

The people in gratitude, offered their mite in kind and cash for the favours received. This donation was in turn distributed among those in need. Gradually, houses were put up to shelter the destitute. In 1930, the land was purchased in a court auction in which the present Ashram is situated. After purchasing the land, houses were put up in the said land and the inmates were moved to the present location in 1936. The ashram also fed hundreds of hungry people every day during the first World War when there was extreme poverty and people didn’t have enough food to eat. Rice was brought from Rangoon (Myanmar) to feed the hungry who used to stand in long queue.

At present, there are 400 destitute sheltered in the Ashram. All their needs are fulfilled free of cost. People, irrespective of caste and creed, are looked after here.

Celebrations announced for the feast of St. Anthony at Jeppu Ashram
Celebrations announced for the feast of St. Anthony at Jeppu Ashram

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