Udupi, 22nd Jan. 16: The Annual Festival of St. Lawrence Shrine will take place on 24,25,26,27 and 28 of January, 2016, From Sunday to Thursday. All necessary arrangements, both spiritual and material have been made already for the smooth conduct of the festival, We accord a warm welcome to all the devotees of St. Lawrence and wish them well, said Rev Fr. George D’Souza Rector, St. Lawrence Shrine, Attur, Karkala.

He was speaking to media persons in Udupi, said that the celebrations will take off on Sunday, 24th January 2016 with the celebration of the Confraternity Sunday (Brotherhood and Sisterhood Sunday). The Holy Mass will be offered at 7.30 am which will be followed by the Eucharistic procession of the Parishioners.

On the same day two special Masses will be offered for the intention of the tiny children at 11.00 am and 3.00 pm.

On Monday 25th January two special will be offered for the sick and the elderly at10 am and 3.30 pm. A special prayer will be offered for the healing and comforting of the sick and the elderly. He said they request all those who accompany the sick and the elderly to come only on that day so as to enable them to get into the Shrine with convenience. They will be allowed to get their vehicles inside the Shrine campus.

During the 5 days of the Shrine Feast, 42 Holy masses will be offered for the benefit of the devotees. The Bishop of Ballary, Mangaluru, Varanasi, Belthangady will be offering Festive Masses during these five days. Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi will be camping at the venue all the five days of the feast.

For the safety and security of the devotees around 75 CC TV cameras have been installed at important locations of the shrine.

More space has been provided at the shrine venue for the free movement and comfort of the devotees. The shrine has more and better facilities for the devotees to fulfill their spiritual obligations like offering Masses, intentions, lighting of candles, confessions of the Catholics Etc.

Sufficient number of toilets/rest rooms have been constructed at the venue along with toilets for the differently-abled and the elderly.

The Police department has made all the arrangements for the safety and security of the devotees. All movements are monitored at the police outpost located at the venue. Apart from the local police there will be a Reserve Police squad who will be taking care of law and order.

Roads leading to the shrine have been widened and asphalted. Thanks to the Urban Development, Minister of the Government of Karnataka Sri Vinaykumar Sorake and Sri Gopal Bhandary former MLA.

The shrine has enhanced the parking space for the benefits of the devotees. A special collection will be made for the beggars and it will be distributed on Friday along with a festal meal for them.

Vehicle passes will be provided to those who provide emergency and necessary services, to the priests, media personnel.

Information about the Shrine, Masses, facilities, instructions to the devotees, will be broadcast through a public address system which will cover a radius of 3 k.m.

The Holy masses will be telecast all the five days on V4 and Divine World Channels.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

• Please maintain the Shrine Campus clean. Waste Bins may please be used for the purpose.

• The Shrine Campus has been kept clean and green. Please protect the grass and plants.

• C. C. Cameras have been installed in strategic locations in the Shrine Campus for the safety and security of the pilgrims. However, you are advised to take care of your gold, money and valuables.

• Do take care of children and the aged. Please ask them to meet at the particular location should they be lost per chance. Please keep the slips of your Mobile Numbers in their pockets.

• Alcoholic beverages have been strictly forbidden in the Shrine Campus and around. Should you find anyone selling them, kindly inform the Enquiry Centre.

• Should you require Police Assistance at any time, kindly visit the Police Outpost set up for the purpose to the left of your entry by the front gate.

• Kindly cooperate in maintaining devotion and discipline in the Church and the Shrine Campus.

• You are specially requested to keep your Mobiles in the Switch-Off Mode inside the church.

• Please take your bags along with you when you go for Confessions, Communion or to be prayed over.

The Stalls in the Shrine Campus:

1. Religious articles, religious literature, rosaries, scapulars, statues, holy oil, etc. are available in the Official Stall of the Shrine.
2. Candles’ Stall of the Shrine.
3. The Udupi Diocesan Stall – Here you may subscribe to ‘Uzvaad’ Fortnightly, the Diocesan Konkani Bulletin.
4. Various types of religious literature is available in the Mangalore Diocesan Mangala Jyothi Stall.
5. You may also subscribe to Raknno, Sevak, Daivik Amrith and Noman Ballok Raya here.
6. A bird’s eye-view of Attur Shrine and a CD of Holy Mass are available here.
7. Udupi Diocesan ‘Divya Jyothi’ Stall and Mangalore Diocesan ‘Mangala Jyothi’ Stall.
8. Stall of Religious Papers.
9. Nitte Health Centre – as medical service centre.
10. MESCOM Service.
11. Fire Brigade.
12. Inquiry Counter .
13. Communications Media centre.

During the press meet along with Fr. George D’Souza, Rev Fr. Denis D’Sa PRO of Udupi Diocese, John D’Silva member of finance committee and former vice president of Parish council were present.