Udupi: God loves us and has Mercy on us, Our moments of Mercy will offer brief reflections on mercy and concrete, suggesting how we can live out the mercy that God offers us all, said during his homily by Most Rev Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese on his festive Solemn High Mass at St. Lawrence Shrine, Attur, Karkala on Wednesday, 27th January, 2016.

Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza led the Eucharistic celebration along with Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Rev Fr. George D’Souza, Rector of St. Lawrence Shrine and 23 priests. He said Pope Francis asks that we should strive for our lives to be rooted in the Mercy of God. One way we can grow in this Mercy is by being receptive to the Christian witness to have faith in Jesus. He said God blessed us by his abundant mercy ever since from the beginning of the world as per the Old Testament. We should be kind to others as needed.

Prior to the Festive Eucharistic celebrations, honour candles distributed to the donors for the Shrine by the Rector and Parish Priest Rev Fr. George D’Souza. After the end of the mass, Rev Fr. George D’Souza gave his gratitude for the concerned on account of celebrations of annual feast which was celebrated from Sunday to Thursday. He gave thanks to each and everyone on behalf of church administration to all concerned.

There have been masses at regular intervals in Konkani, Kannada and English. Confessions will be held every now and then in Shrine campus with plenty of priests. Comparatively, on Tuesday, devotees were less on Wednesday morning masses. Devotees were seen burning the candles in front of the Statue of St. Lawrence and queuing for receiving flowers and blessed oil. Some devotees were also queuing up to make their way to the holy pond of Pushkarini and make their offerings there.