St. Lawrence Shrine Basilica

St. Lawrence Minor Basilica
St. Lawrence Basilica in Attur, Karkala
St. Lawrence Minor Basilica St. Lawrence Minor Basilica in Karnataka Map
13°12′21.3516″N 74°58′19.4016″E / 13.205931000°N 74.972056000°E / 13.205931000; 74.972056000
Location	Attur, Karkala, Karnataka
Country	India
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.stlawrenceattur.org
History
Status	Minor Basilica
Founded	1759
Dedication	Saint Lawrence
Consecrated	22 January 1901
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Inspired by Gothic
Administration
District	Udupi
Province	Bangalore
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Udupi
Clergy
Archbishop	Peter Machado
Bishop(s)	Gerald Isaac Lobo
Rector	Alban Dsouza

St. Lawrence Shrine Basilica or Attur Basilica (Portuguese: São Lourenço de Carcoal, English: St. Lawrence of Karkala) is a Roman Catholic church in Karkala, India. It was built in 1759 and is purported to be the site of many miracles. It is by characterized its Attur Jatre or Attur Festival.

Attur Church is situated on the outskirts of Karkala in the Karnataka state of India. It is situated 58 km from Mangalore.

Placed amidst placid greenery, the Attur-Karkala parish has a rich history. The church oversees a school and an orphanage.

Born in the 3rd century, St. Lawrence, believed to be a Spaniard, was an extraordinarily virtuous young man. This quality came to the notice of the future Pope Sixtus II, then the archdeacon of Rome. Under the tutelage of Sixtus, Lawrence studied the holy scriptures, and the maxims of Christian perfection.

St. Lawrence of Attur is known for his astonishing power of intercession with God. Over the past years the patronage of St. Lawrence over Attur has been remarkable. Not only the residents of Karkala and the pilgrims flocking there in great numbers, but also devotees who invoke St. Lawrence of Attur without visiting the shrine have experienced his powerful intercession. The number of pilgrims to the place throughout the year and specially those during the feast days in the month of January is an evident proof that St. Lawrence does not disappoint those who come to him in faith and devotion.

Christians over here suffered captivity under Tippu Sultan during the period 1784–1799.

Fr. Alban Dsouza took charge as the rector of the St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur on 6 July 2021.^[1]

This church being widely acclaimed as having the power to intercede with God, attracts not only the residents of Udupi District but also pilgrims from all parts of India.

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

The parish has 428 families with a population of 1799 members.^[4] Total 10 wards are present in this parish.

• Roman Catholicism in Mangalore
• Goan Catholics
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Udupi
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangalore
• Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Kanajar, Karkala

• Official website