Thousands Gather in Faith and Devotion as Saint Anthony’s Minor Basilica, Dornahalli Celebrates Grand Annual Feast 2026
Amid an atmosphere of deep faith, prayer, and jubilation, thousands of devotees from across Karnataka and neighbouring states converged at the historic Saint Anthony’s Minor Basilica, Dornahalli, to participate in the grand annual feast of Saint Anthony of Padua on June 13, 2026. The day-long celebrations witnessed an extraordinary expression of devotion as pilgrims sought the saint’s intercession through prayer, thanksgiving, and participation in the sacred liturgical services.
A Sacred Pilgrimage Centre Steeped in History:
Saint Anthony’s Basilica at Dornahalli has long been regarded as one of the most revered pilgrimage centres in South India. The shrine’s remarkable history dates back to the 1800s when a farmer discovered a wooden statue while ploughing his field. Following divine revelations and the identification of the statue as that of Saint Anthony by a Christian priest, a humble shrine was established on the site.
Over the decades, numerous testimonies of answered prayers and miraculous favours drew increasing numbers of pilgrims. The first formal church structure was built in 1920 under the leadership of Rev. Fr S. Dsilva, with generous support from Shri Thambu Chetty, the Dewan of Mysore Palace, and his brother Dharmaraj Chetty.
As devotion to Saint Anthony continued to grow, a larger church was constructed under Rev. Fr I.H. Lobo and solemnly blessed on June 13, 1969, by Bishop Most Rev. Dr Matthias Fernandez. A historic milestone was achieved on October 17, 2019, when Pope Francis elevated the shrine to the distinguished status of a Minor Basilica, a recognition formally announced during a Thanksgiving Mass on June 9, 2020.
Day Begins with Prayer and Eucharistic Celebrations:
The feast day celebrations commenced at dawn with a series of Holy Masses offered in different languages, enabling devotees from diverse regions to participate meaningfully in the spiritual celebrations.
The first Kannada Mass at 5:00 a.m. was celebrated by Rev. Fr Thomas B., followed by the 6:00 a.m. Kannada Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr Robert Gregory Monterio, Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, Kolkata. The 7:00 a.m. English Mass was offered by Rev. Fr Thomas Manjaly SAC, Rector of Prabhodhana Seminary, Mysuru, while the 8:00 a.m. Kannada Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr Anthonappa J., Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Ganjam.
Solemn Festive High Mass Draws Massive Gathering:
The spiritual highlight of the feast was the Festive High Mass at 10:00 a.m., celebrated by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Mysore, in the presence of a large gathering of clergy, religious, and faithful. The solemn Eucharistic celebration transformed the Basilica grounds into a vibrant assembly of faith and prayer.
Rev. Msgr. Anthappa M., Vicar General of the Diocese of Mysore, was also present for the celebration.
Bishop Francis Serrao Inspires Faithful with Powerful Message:
In his deeply inspiring homily, Bishop Francis Serrao reflected on the life and virtues of St Anthony of Padua, presenting the saint as a model of unwavering faith, humility, and trust in God. The Bishop explained that the familiar image of St Anthony holding the Child Jesus is far more than a devotional symbol; it represents the saint’s profound and intimate relationship with Christ. For St Anthony, Jesus was not merely a figure spoken of in the Scriptures but the living centre of his life and mission.
Highlighting the saint’s deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Serrao recalled the famous Eucharistic miracle associated with Saint Anthony and emphasized that the Eucharist remains the heart of the Church and the source of Christian life. He encouraged the faithful to strengthen their relationship with Christ through regular participation in the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration.
The Bishop also reflected on Saint Anthony’s tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In moments of difficulty and uncertainty, the saint constantly sought Mary’s guidance and intercession. Urging the faithful to imitate these virtues, the Bishop called upon everyone to place their trust in God, remain devoted to the Eucharist, and seek the loving protection of Mother Mary.
Concluding his homily, he encouraged the faithful to make God their strength and to live lives marked by faith, hope, trust, and love, following the inspiring example of Saint Anthony.
Multilingual Liturgical Celebrations Continue Throughout the Day:
The celebrations continued with a Tamil Mass at 11:30 a.m., celebrated by Most Rev. Dr Joseph Susainathan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. The 1:00 p.m. English Mass was offered by Rev. Fr Alexander Daniel OFS of Krupalaya Seminary, Bogadi.
Afternoon services included the 3:00 p.m. Kannada Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr Sanjay Kumar F., Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Health Church, Hanur, and the 4:00 p.m. Kannada Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr Soosai A., Parish Priest of Nirmala Mathe Church, Madapura.
The final Mass of the day was celebrated at 5:30 p.m. by Rev. Fr Michael Mari A., Parish Priest of Infant Jesus Church, Nanjangud.
Grand Procession and Eucharistic Benediction:
The feast celebrations culminated in a grand and colourful car procession followed by the Benediction of the Holy Eucharist. Thousands of devotees joined in prayer, hymns, and thanksgiving, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere that reflected the enduring devotion of the faithful to St Anthony.
Spirit of Charity and Service Shines Brightly:
In keeping with the Basilica’s tradition of hospitality, free meals were served throughout the day to all pilgrims through the generous support of numerous donors and benefactors. The spirit of charity, fellowship, and community service was evident everywhere as volunteers worked tirelessly to assist the thousands of visitors. Special appreciation was extended to Rev. Fr Sebastian, Rev. Fr Ashwin, Rev. Fr Charles, Br Suvas, and Br Raheal Prasad for their dedicated service and invaluable assistance in ensuring the smooth conduct of the feast celebrations.
Gratitude for Support and Cooperation:
The Basilica administration expressed heartfelt gratitude to MLA Ravi Shankar, various government departments, police personnel, health workers, volunteers, benefactors, religious sisters, clergy, and parishioners for their cooperation and support in making the annual feast a resounding success. Rev. Fr David Sagaya Raj, Rector, and Rev. Fr Praveen Pedru, Administrator of Saint Anthony’s Basilica, thanked all devotees, well-wishers, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the celebrations through their presence, prayers, and dedicated service.
A Beacon of Faith, Hope and Divine Grace:
The feast celebrations will continue at the Basilica on June 14, 15, and 16 with special liturgical services, devotional programmes, and pilgrim gatherings, offering the faithful further opportunities for spiritual renewal.
As thousands of pilgrims returned to their homes carrying blessed bread, cherished memories, and renewed faith, the message of Saint Anthony continued to resonate in their hearts. Standing as a beacon of prayer, healing, and divine grace, Saint Anthony’s Minor Basilica, Dornahalli, once again reaffirmed its place as one of the most cherished centres of Christian pilgrimage and devotion in the region. The Annual Feast 2026 was not merely a celebration—it was a powerful testimony to faith, unity, gratitude, and the enduring legacy of St Anthony of Padua, whose intercession continues to inspire and bless countless devotees year after year.
