191st Feast of St. Anthony of Padua: Celebrations with Grandeurat Kochchikade Shrine

The Solemn Vespars service presided over by the archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith 

• The nine-day novena (which is continuous prayer) was held from June 03 with the traditional hoisting of the flagstaff
• The Feast Day began with the first Holy Mass at 4:00 a.m., which was followed by a series of hourly Masses, which were conducted by various priests in Sinhala, Tamil, and English

The procession was very colourful

By Indunil Pathirana

Thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad gathered at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, to mark the 191st Annual Feast of St. Anthony of Padua on June 12-13, 2025. The celebration, steeped in spiritual tradition and vibrant devotion, remains one of Sri Lanka’s most revered religious events.

The festivities commenced on June 03 with the traditional hoisting of the flagstaff, signifying the start of a nine-day novena conducted in both Sinhala and Tamil. The novenas, held from June 03 to June 11, drew large congregations each day, with faithful praying for blessings, healing, and thanksgiving.

The Solemn Vespers Service was held on the evening of June 12 and was presided over by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo. The service was marked by hymns translated into both languages for the first time, reflection and benediction, setting the tone for the following day’s celebrations.

Feast Day on June 13 began before dawn with a series of hourly Holy Masses. The first Mass at 4:00 a.m. was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Namal Nishshanka, Asst. Administrator of the Shrine, followed by Masses led by Rev. Fr. Jude Samantha Fernando, the Administrator of the Shrine; Rev. Fr. Joy Mariyarathnam CMF; and Rev. Fr. Lalith Perera, Procurator General of the Archdiocese of Colombo.

The final blessing brings thousands together in shared devotion at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo

The Festive High Masses were held in Sinhala, Tamil, and English to accommodate the diverse congregation. The Tamil service was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, while the Sinhala Masses were led by Most Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva, and Most Rev. Dr. J D Anthony, Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo; The English High Mass was celebrated by Most Rev. Dr. James Douglas Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, USA.

The evening featured the much-anticipated annual procession, which commenced at 5:30 p.m. Devotees lined the streets as the statue of St. Anthony was carried on a beautifully decorated chariot, carefully guarded by Sri Lanka Navy officers. The procession moved reverently through the streets of the city, accompanied by representatives of the clergy as well as Catholic and non-Catholic devotees. The event was a powerful celebration of faith, tradition and heritage, marked by prayers, hymns, and instrumental bands. The final blessing was imparted by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith around 8:30 p.m.

Adding to the pageantry of the evening were a display of fireworks, floral showers from drones, and a digitally hoisted screen, blending tradition with modern technology and creating a deeply memorable spectacle.

Remarkably, despite the heavy showers, the crowd moved forward in procession, a powerful testament to the persistent faith of the devotees, who saw the rain not as a hindrance but as showers of blessings. 

In his closing remarks, the Shrine’s administrator expressed heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence, all the Auxiliary Bishops, clergy, well-wishers, volunteers, and devotees. He praised the unwavering faith of the community, noting how the heavy rains that fell during the procession miraculously ceased just before the final blessing ceremony, a moment many considered a sign of divine grace.

The 191st Feast of St. Anthony of Padua stood as a powerful testament to enduring faith, community spirit, and the unbroken legacy of devotion at one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred Catholic sites, The St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo, often called a “shrine of peace” for uniting Sri Lanka’s beloved multiethnic and multi-religious communities.