History of St. Lawrence Shrine Basilica or Attur Basilica, Karkala

St. Lawrence Shrine or Attur Church is in existence since 1759, is said to have a history of miracles. Its yearly feast held in the 3rd week of January which called as Attur Jatre / Attur Fest or Attur santmari

Christians over here suffered captivity under Tippu Sultan during the period 1784-1799 A D. The parish church in those days was situated at a place about 7 kilometres away from the present church. Tippu demolished that church and Karkala Christians after the freedom from captivity, built a Church with thatched roof somewhere on the way to Nakre in the year 1801 under the leadership of a Goan priest.

When the church was too old to be used, devotees of St Lawrence accompanied by a Goan priest went about in search of a suitable site carrying with them a one-foot wooden Miracle statue of St Lawrence. They were praying St Lawrence to guide them in the choice of a place for raising a church in his honour. They crossed the Rama Samudra of Karkala and coming down the woods of ‘Parpale hills’ they reached Attur. Then they saw a spring flowing at the bottom of the hill. As they were tired and thirsty they placed the statue of Saint on the ground and quenched their thirst. when they thought of resuming the journey, they could not lift the statue, it was firm and immovable on the spot they kept. Then the priest decided to build the church on that very spot, Later they built the church in the year 1839, and soon became a place of pilgrimage.

In the year 1895 the parish priest, Rev Fr Frank finding so many devotees of St Lawrence flocking to this church and claiming to have received innumerable favours from the saint fostered the devotion further and organised novenas and prayer services making them more and more attractive. In the year 1900 Rev Fr Frank Pereira had the present church built facing the north. This church was blessed and inaugurated on 22 January 1901 by the Vicar General, Very Rev Mgr Frachetti.

St. Lawrence of Attur is venerated for his exceptional intercessory power before God. His patronage over the region of Attur has been consistently evident over the years. Devotees, both from the local community of Karkala and from distant regions, attest to numerous instances of divine favor obtained through his intercession. Notably, even those who have not physically visited the shrine report spiritual and temporal blessings attributed to his aid. The continuous influx of pilgrims throughout the year—particularly during the annual feast in January—serves as a compelling testament to the enduring faith in St. Lawrence and the profound trust placed in his intercession by the faithful.

Pope Francis had elevated the shrine of Saint Lawrence at Attur – Karkala to the status of a Minor basilica on April 26, 2016. St Lawrence Shrine is the 22nd basilica in India and the second in Karnataka, with St. Mary’s Basilica, Bangalore being the first.

The Proclamation and Dedication of the St. Lawrence Shrine Attur, Karkala as Minor basilica was held in a grand manner on 1 August 2016, the Proclamation and Dedication of the shrine as Minor Basilica took place during the mass. Three Cardinals, 40 Bishops and more than 300 priests and nuns along with 15,000 devotees witnessed the historical occasion

Parish Priests served in this Parish :

As per available records the following priests have rendered their valuable service and served the people of this Shrine:

1. Fr. Francis Salvador Lobo 1759

2. Fr. Sabastio M. De Crasto 1775

3. Fr. Kusthodeo C. Nazara 1777

4. Fr. Alexio Rodriguez. 1781–1786

No written record is available for period 1786-1801.

5. Fr. V. Rodrigues 1801

6. Fr. C. Silva 1808

7. Fr. A. S. D. Veri Tako Silva –

8. Fr. Serao 1818

9. Fr. C. Furthado 1823

10. Fr. P. J. Rebero 1830

11. Fr. P. Noronha 1832

12. Fr. H. R. Souza 1834

13. Fr. Sereio 1845

14. Fr. Lawrence Fernandes –

15. Fr. Joseph Michael Rebello 1856-1858

16. Fr. Agustine Dose Jacobse

Doris Gonsalves 1855-1868

17. Fr. John Cross 1868- 1870

18. Fr. A. Fernandes 1870- 1881

19. Fr.Frank S Pereira, 1881–1904

20. Fr. Jacob Sequeira 1904- 1914

21. Fr. Alphons Mari Ligory Vaz 1914- 1922

22. Fr. Salvadore D’Souza, 1922–1948

23. Fr. A. J. D’Silva. 1948- 1952

24. Fr. Pascal Lobo. 1952- 1953

25. Fr. Francis D’Souza, 1953–1957

26. Fr. William Lewis, 1957–1959

27. Fr. Valerian B Colaco, 1959–1970

28. Fr. F.P.S. Monis, 1070- 1978

29. Fr. Robert Z D’Souza, 1978–1986

30. Fr. Jose M. Menezes, 1986–1992

31. Fr. Robert Crasta, 1992–1993

32. Fr. Joswey Fernandes. 1993 – 2001

33. Fr. Francis Cornelio 2001–2006

34. Fr. Arthur Pereira 2006 – 2013

35. Fr. George D’Souza 2013 – 2021

36. Fr. Alban D’Souza 06.07.2021–Present

St. Lawrence Shrine Basilica Attur, Karkala – 576 117

Rector. Rev . Fr. Alban D’Souza
Phone : 08258 – 230322, 233842

Mass Timings : Daily Mass at 6.30 am
Saturday 4.30 pm , Sunday 7.30 & 10.30 am

Thursday Novena : 10.00am Rosary & Confession
10.30 am Adoration, 11.00 am Mass, 12.00 noon Novena, 12.15 pm Lunch