Basilica of St Lawrence, Attur Karkala

The Basilica of St Lawrence at Attur, Karkala appears to have been in existence even prior to 1759 AD, from which date the earliest records of the parish priests who served at this church are available. Except for a brief interregnum (1786–1801) during the period of the captivity of the Mangalorean Catholics by Tippu Sultan, St Lawrence Basilica Attur has been a great draw for pilgrims in the region. In recent years, increasing numbers of the faithful have made this shrine one of the most popular Catholic destinations in coastal Karnataka.

History

The church at the time of its founding was located elsewhere, at a distance of 7 km away from the present site. In 1784, when Tippu began his campaign against the Catholics of Kanara, this church, like many others in Kanara, fell into the hands of his rampaging troops and was completely destroyed. It is a testimony to the resilience of the parishioners, who upon their return from captivity in 1801 set upon immediately restoring a semblance of the church at yet another site, 4 km away from the previous location.

It was a make-shift church with a thatched roof, which in 1839 was supplanted by a new building, a forerunner to the present-day St Lawrence Basilica. Due to the ever-increasing number of pilgrims, a new church was erected at the present site in 1901. That building, which stood until 2001, no longer exists, a small flower garden having taken its place.

The Present Basilica

To commemorate 200 years of its existence in 2001, the present magnificent structure was erected as a memorial to the Bicentenary and consecrated on 21 January 2001 by the Bishop of Mangalore. On 26 April 2016, the shrine was elevated to the status of a minor basilica, one of only 26 in India.

Pilgrimage

The increase in the number of pilgrims flocking to the shrine has been exponential. The devout are no longer restricted to the immediate vicinity, but come from great distances especially to the annual feast held on 27 January. Those who invoke St Lawrence of Attur speak of his powerful intercession with God in granting them favours requested. The rising number of pilgrims is standing testimony to the fact that St Lawrence does not disappoint those who come to him in faith and devotion.