Dornahalli, Mysuru: Around 200 years ago, a farmer ploughing his field in Dornahalli unearthed a wooden statue of St Anthony of Padua. The farmer built a small place of worship in honour of the saint. A large church was built at the site in the middle of the 19th century and another in 1920. When this church was in a dilapidated condition, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1969. However, the facade of the 1920 church was renovated and retained. This church is in the shape of a Tau cross and can accommodate a thousand people. It also houses a small relic of St. Anthony brought from Italy. Pope Francis granted the title of Minor Basilica to the shrine in a decree dated 17th October 2019. Most willingly bestows on the shrine church in the town called Dornahalli, dedicated in honour of St Anthony’s shrine the title and rank of MINOR BASILICA With all the rights and concomitant liturgical privileges, observing however whatever is obligatory according to the decree “De Titulo Basilicae Minoris” promulgated on 9th November 1989.
The historical Dornahalli Jatra was been cancelled for the last two consecutive years in Mysore due to COVID 19 disease. This time in basilica we are very much lucky and also grateful to celebrate the feast along with the people. On making this feast a successful one 9 days of novena had been conducted starting from 4th June 2022 till 12th June 2022. On 4th June 2022 Saturday at 5:30 pm along with the flag hoisting ceremony the novena began. On 4th June the Eucharistic celebration is been celebrated by Emeritus Bishop of Mysore Most Rev. Dr Thomas Antony Vazhapilly. On the day of the festival from the morning, 5:00 am till evening masses were conducted by the following priests in Kannada such as at 5:00 am by Rev.Fr N. T. Joseph, at 6:00 am by Rev. Fr James Dominic, at 7:00 am by Rev. Fr Joseph Packiaraj, at 8:00 am by Rev. Fr George Deepak, at 2:00 pm by Rev. Fr Vijay Kumar, at 3:00 pm by Rev. Fr Stanley D’Almeida and at 4:00 pm by Rev. Fr M. Vincent. On the feast day which is on 13-06-2022 Monday, the main masses are as follows. In the Kannada festival, Eucharistic mass was celebrated by The Bishop of Mysore Most Rev. Fr Dr K. Antony William, Rev. Msgr.
Alfred J. Mendonca [Vicar General, Diocese of Mysore] and Rev. Fr Dominic Vas [Episcopal Vicar for religious, Diocese of Mysore]. Tamil mass was at 11:30 am and the Eucharistic celebration was been celebrated by Most Rev. Dr A. Amalraj [Diocese of Ootacamund]. English mass was at 1:00 pm and the Eucharistic celebration was been celebrated by Most Rev. Dr Rozario Menezes [Bishop of LAE, PNG]. And Kannada mass at 5:30 pm the Eucharistic celebration was been celebrated by Rev. MSGR. Jayanathan [Secretary, KRCBC]. After Holy Mass The Bishop of Mysore Most Rev. Fr Dr K. Antony William along with other priests did the adoration. This was been followed by the Car Procession and Benediction of the Holy Eucharist. On the feast day also the novena was conducted and Rev. Fr N. T. Joseph thanked all the devotees. Rev. Fr Praveen Kumar, Rev Fr Isaac, and Rev. Fr Bernard Prakash[Rector, St Philomena educational institutions, mysore], helped on the day of the feast.
– Photos by Stanly Bantwal
