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Karkala, Jun 14: ( Report: DAijiworld) The 44th annual feast of St Antony at Pakala, Manjarapalke, Belman, known as ’Pakala Habba’, was celebrated with joy and religious fervour on Tuesday June 13.

Fr Stany D’Souza, provincial, Jesuits Karnataka province presided over the Eucharistic celebration, while Fr Edwin D’Souza, parish priest of St Joseph Church, Belman, Fr Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest, and priests from the neighbouring churches and from the deanery were present.

In his homily Fr Stany D’Souza said, "Salt adds taste while light spreads brightness. We have to be like salt and light to the needy. Jesus is calling us to be salt and light. We have only one leader, and he is Jesus Christ. There is value to Jesus Christ’s words.

"Today we are celebrating the St Antony’s feast. When we recall about St Antony we remember his different miracles. When he was young he left home and joined priesthood. He lived a simple life.

"There are different ways of reading the Bible. There is strength in Jesus Christ’s word. St Antony spoke to Jesus and spent time with him. He also mixed with people and listened to the needy. He is the bridge between us and Jesus," he said.

He also stressed on the importance of having a stable family in order to build a good life with virtues such as discipline, patience, open-heartedness, prayer and contentment.

In his thanksgiving note, Fr Edwin D’Souza thanked all the priests, Alwyn Ageira, vice-president, Paustine D’Souza, secretary of parish pastoral council and all the members, Gregory Menezes, vice-president, Gretta D’Souza, secretary in-charge of the committee of Pakala shrine and all the donors who helped in making the annual feast a grand event.

Vespers at st.Antony’s shrine,Pakala,Manjarpalke .
On June 12, Msgr Dr Baptist Menezes, vicar general, diocese of Udupi, celebrated the mass."The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so."

Prior to the Eucharistic mass, candles were distributed to all the donors.