More than 12,000 devotees participated in the annual feast of St. Anthony of Padua at St. Anthony Church in Mhow, a military cantonment town near Indore in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on June 13.
The celebration drew pilgrims from across Madhya Pradesh as well as neighboring states, making it one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the region.
Three bishops, 20 priests, 20 religious brothers, and nearly 150 religious sisters joined the faithful for the feast.
Preparations began on June 4 with a nine-day novena in honor of St. Anthony. The daily program included the Rosary, novena prayers, and the celebration of the Eucharist.
The solemn feast-day Mass was presided over by Archbishop Anil Joseph Couto of the Archdiocese of Delhi. Concelebrants included Bishop Thomas Mathew of Indore, Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal, SVD, and other clergy.
In his homily, Archbishop Couto reflected on the life and legacy of St. Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church’s most widely venerated saints.
“St. Anthony of Padua is known as a preacher, teacher, and lover of God. Many people seek his intercession when they have lost something valuable. But beyond material possessions, he helps people rediscover what may be spiritually lost in their lives, including faith, hope, peace, and their relationship with God,” the archbishop said.
Throughout the day, pilgrims arrived at the church to offer prayers and seek blessings. Many traveled on foot from nearby towns and villages as part of their pilgrimage.
Following the Mass, a statue of St. Anthony was placed in a ceremonial palanquin and carried in procession around the church grounds. The faithful joined the procession, offering prayers and personal intentions.
Afterward, many devotees passed beneath the palanquin carrying the statue as an expression of faith and devotion, entrusting their petitions to God through the intercession of St. Anthony.
Sumit Dhanraj, a parishioner from Mhow, said the annual feast continues to attract large numbers of pilgrims because of the devotion many Catholics have to St. Anthony.
“The feast provides an opportunity for people to come together in prayer and seek God's blessings through the intercession of St. Anthony,” he said.
The annual celebration remains an important event for Catholics in central India and a significant pilgrimage for devotees of St. Anthony across the region.
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