Festival celebrations at Palaiootu St Lourdes Shrine

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 May 2003, 22:17 GMT]
More than a century old St Lourdes’ Mother Shrine in Palaiootu village, about two km. off west of Trincomalee town Sunday celebrated its annual festival. A large number of devotees attended the festival, which commenced on May 16 with flag hoisting ceremony, sources said.

Palaiootu St Lourdes Mother shrine

Palaiootu St Lourdes Shrine, which is also called “Jungle Shrine” as it is surrounded by Palai trees. The shrine was founded in 1900, according to church records.

Rev.Fr.Clement Annathas, Parish Priest of Orr’s Hill church presided over the festival. Parish priest of the Palaiootu St Lourdes Shrine Rev.Fr Alban Rajasingham held the Mass, sources said.

Oblate Provincial in Colombo Fr.Oswald B.Firth, OMI has commended the dedicated service by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to the parish of Palaiootu in the Diocese of Trincomalee.

Palaiootu Shrine festival.

Section of the devotees attending the Palaiootu shrine festival (click for a larger image)





Entrance to the Palaiootu Jungle shrine