Mangaluru : Very Rev. Dr Ronald Serrao the Rector of St Joseph Inter-Diocesan Seminary Jeppu inaugurated the devotion of nine days novena in preparation for the feast of Relic of St Anthony by hoisting the flag of St Anthony at Milagres and offered the Holy Mass.

In his homily Fr Serrao preached on abortion, the theme of the day. The general theme for the feast for the novena and the feast is ‘ Life is a gift of God, it must be nurtured and protected’. Fr Serrao asked for the Divine Grace for those who commit abortion and those who carry out abortion and for those who make policies to make abortion legal so that they may see reason and get enlightened. Abortion is a crime against the unborn the most vulnerable ones. He also asked the congregation to pray for the unborn infants who are made to die before seeing the light of the world.

Earlier in the evening the statue of St Anthony was taken in procession from St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu to Milagres Church in a vehicle rally. A short novena was also conducted at 8 p.m. at the entrance gate of St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu with candle lights. Earlier during the day St Anthony’s chaplet, Adoration and Holy Mass was conducted at the Jeppu Ashram.

Fr Onil D’Souza the director of the Ashram conducted the novena. Fr Thrishan D’Souza and Fr Roshan D’Souza the Asst Directors and devotees in thousands participated in the devotion.