Mangaluru: The annual feast of St.Padre Pio was celebrated on September 25, Sunday evening at St. Ann's Friary near Jail Road, Mangaluru. St Padre Pio who is popularly known as "the mirror of mercy" was venerated in a grand manner. For the last 9 days novenas were held as the preparation for this feast in St Ann's Chapel.

The feast was celebrated in the Divine Mercy Retreat Hall (in the campus of St Ann's Friary) with the presence of around 1500 faithful including the priests and nuns. At 5.15 pm the procession of Padre Pio's relic was held.

At 6.00pm the Eucharist was celebrated, which was presided over by Rev Fr Andrew Dsouza, the parish priest of Bondel, St Lawrence Church. He preached a fitting homily and called up on the faithful to be the mirrors of mercy after the example of Jesus Christ and Padre Pio. The choir was angelic. After the Eucharist, sumptuous dinner was served to all the faithful.

Fr Paul Melwyn, the Superior of St Ann's Friary and Fr Darick, the Director of St Pio's Shrine thanked one and all.