Mangaluru : The first annual celebration of the proclamation and dedication of the St. Lawrence Basilica began at Attur near Karkala on Udupi district on Tuesday.

Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, concelebrated the mass with Lawrence D’Souza, Secretary, Catholic Education Society. George D’Souza, Rector of the Basilica, Stany B. Lobo, Rector of Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur, and Joswy Dean of Karkala Deanery, were present.

Many priests from Udupi and Mangaluru and a large number of devotees took part in the celebration. It has been a year after the basilica was proclaimed and dedicated by the Holy See. After the prayers, meals were served to all devotees as a sign of brotherhood.

Pope Francis had elevated the shrine of St. Lawrence at Attur to the status of a minor basilica. It is the second minor basilica in the State, the first being St. Mary’s Basilica at Shivajinagar in Bengaluru.