191st Feast of St. Anthony of Padua celebrated with grandeur at Kochchikade Shrine

The Solemn Vespers Service presided over by the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith 

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 12 and 13 June. 

The celebration, steeped in spiritual tradition and vibrant devotion, remains one of Sri Lanka’s most revered religious events.

The festivities commenced on 3 June 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 3 to 11 June, drew large congregations each day, with faithful praying for blessings, healing, and thanksgiving.

The Solemn Vespers Service was held on the evening of 12 June and was presided over by the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. 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 13 June began before dawn with a series of hourly Holy Masses. The first Mass at 4:00 a.m. was celebrated by Asst. Administrator of the Shrine Rev. Fr. Namal Nishshanka, followed by Masses led by The Administrator of the Shrine Rev. Fr. Jude Samantha Fernando, Rev. Fr. Joy Mariyarathnam CMF, and Procurator General of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Lalith Perera.

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

A sea of faithful hearts: The final blessing draws thousands in moment of shared devotion, marking conclusion of 191st Feast of St. Anthony of Padua at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo

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 the 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 multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities.