Jaffna diocese, which organises the annual St Antony’s festival at the uninhabited Katchatheevu islet in the Palk Bay, has extended formal invitation to the Sivaganga Diocese to bring Indian pilgrims for the festival, scheduled to be held on February 23 and 24.
Jaffna Diocese Vicar General Rev Fr J.P. Jebaratnam has extended invitation to Sivaganga Diocese Bishop Rev Fr J Soosaimanickam in a recent communication after which, the Rameswaram-Verkodu parish has began the process of inviting devotees for the two-day pilgrimage.
Applications for the pilgrimage would be made available at the Parish office on January 13, 14 and 15 and the pilgrims should submit the filled-in applications by January 30, said Fr A Antonysamy, Rameswaram-Verkodu parish priest and chief coordinator of the pilgrimage.
After informing Collector S Natarajan about the proposed pilgrimage, registration of mechanised boats for sailing the pilgrims began on Wednesday, he said adding the registration of boats, through the associations would be completed on Friday.
“We propose to register 60 mechanised boats and restrict the number of pilgrims around 2000 this year,” Fr Antonysamy told The Hindu .
Last year, a record 5,015 pilgrims, including about 2,000 from Rameswaram island, had registered for the pilgrimage but they could not undertake the pilgrimage for the festival held on March 11 and 12 after the local fisherfolk boycotted the festival, protesting against the gunning down of fisherman K Britjo, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, which forced the parish to call off the pilgrimage.
The Rameswaram fishermen also could not donate the flag-mast and monstrance to the newly built St. Antony’s Church in Katchatheevu last year. This year, the 35-foot tall teak wood flag-mast would be taken for installation at the new church, Fr. Antonysamy said.
After the Jaffna Diocese consecrated the newly built church in December 2016, the local fishermen, who became upset that they could not make any contribution, offered to donate flag-mast, monstrances for worship, chalice for holy mass and a statue of St. Antony to be installed at the church.
The flag mast and other holy materials would be taken this time after getting formal permission from the Jaffna Diocese, Fr Antonysamy said.
