Lakhs of devotees take part in the annual feast of world-renown St. Anthony of Dornahalli

Dornahalli, Mysore: The Annual Feast of World Renowned St Anthony of Dornahalli 2023 was held on June 13, 2023. On the feast day, which was Tuesday, masses were held from 5 a.m. upto 5.30 p.m.

The Festive Eucharistic Celebration was celebrated in Kannada at 10 a.m. by Most Rev.Dr.Bernard Moras , Apostolic Administrator , Diocese of Mysore, and Rev.Fr. Clifford, Secretary of the Bishop, who preached the sermon. Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph, Rector, St. Antony’s Basilica, Dornahalli; Rev. Fr. Praveen Pedru , Administrator, St Anthony’s Basilica, Dornahalli, Rev.Fr  Julian, Vice Rector, St. Antony’s Basilica, Dornahalli, Rev. Msgr. Alfred J Mendonca, Vicar General, Diocese of Mysore, Rev.Fr James Dominic, Financial Administrator, Diocese of Mysore, Rev. Fr  Joseph Palciya Roy , Chancellor, Diocese of Mysore, Rev.Fr Bernard Prakash Barnis, Rector, St Philomena’s college, Rev.Fr. Madali Muthu , Procurator of the Education Board, were present as co-celebrants .

At 5am the mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph ,Rector, St. Anthony’s Basilica, Dornahalli , at 6am by Rev. Fr. Sanjay Kumar Administrator, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mysuru , at 7am by Rev. Fr. Edward William Saldanha ,Parish Priest, St. Mary’s Church, H. D. Kote , at 8am by Rev. Fr. Chinnappa ,Parish Priest, Mother of Humanity Church, Mandya, at 11.30am by Rev. Fr. Vincent M, Parish Priest, O.L of Perpetual Succour Church, Srirampura , at 1.00 pm by Rev. Fr. Valentine R. Kumar ,Parish Priest, Holy Family Church, Hinkal , at 3.00pm by Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam ,Parish Priest, O. L. of Presentation Church. Mariamangalam , at 4.00pm by Rev. Fr. George Deepak ,Parish Priest, St. Michael’s Church, Madikeri ,  at 5.30pm by Rev. Fr. Michael Mari A. Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Siddapura ,which was followed by the Car Procession and Benediction of the Holy Eucharist. Rev. Fr. N. T. Joseph, Rector, St. Anthony’s Basilica, Dornahalli, thanked everyone for their support and cooperation.

Mr. Ravi Shankar, MLA of K.R. Nagar, also paid a visit to St. Anthony’s Basilica. Lakhs of devotees took part in the eucharistic celebrations throughout the day. The Annual Feast of St Anthony Basilica Dornahalli 2023 was a great success with the help of local leaders, benefactors, and devotees.

Here’s a  brief history of the Miraculous Statue of St Anthony 

Around 220 years ago, a farmer, while tilling his field, found a wooden statue that was found to have miraculous powers. In the days to come, it would be revealed that it was the statue of St. Anthony of Padua. Devotees started visiting this place in large numbers and obtained great favours.

In order to facilitate the devotees prayer and show their reverence to St. Anthony, a small shrine was built in the year 1920 by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. S. D’Silva, with the generosity and help of the erstwhile Dewan at the Mysore Palace, Shri Thambu Chetty, and his brother, Shri Dharmaraj Chetty.

In the years to come, the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine because of the miracles taking place increased manifold. It was then decided to construct a spacious and beautiful church by the then Parish Priest Very. Rev. Fr. I. H. Lobo, and hence construction started in 1964. The newly constructed, spacious, and beautiful church was blessed and inaugurated on June 13, 1969 by His Excellency Most. Rev. Dr. Matthias Fernandez, who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Mysore.

On the 17th of October, 2019, by the Divine blessings of the Almighty, the Church was granted the status of “Minor Basilica” by His Holiness Pope Francis, which is a matter of great joy to all the devotees.

On June 9, 2020, Most Rev. Dr. K. A. William Bishop of Mysore, officially announced the Minor Basilica and offered the Thanksgiving Mass.

Report by: Anvita Dcunha