Pune's St Anthony’s chapel to get shrine status

The Chapel of St Anthony’s, at St Vincent’s Street in Pune Camp, has been raised to the status of a Diocesan shrine.

The bishop of Pune, Rev Thomas Dabre, will hold a Holy Eucharist ceremony in the presence of Rev Valerian D’Souza, emeritus bishop of Pune, on November 15 to officially declare the chapel a shrine.

It will be followed by a candlelight procession to the chapel, which will begin at St Xavier’s Church, Pune Camp, at 6.30pm.

Started 73 years ago by Henry William and his wife, the chapel is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua, who is known as the patron saint of seekers of lost articles. The couple had found the idol while digging. 

Director of the shrine, Fr Anthony Paul said, “The small chapel was long venerated among the faithful, but it would be
officially declared as a shrine now.”