Kampala: The Kerala Christian Community of Uganda celebrated a historic milestone on Tuesday, marking 500 weeks of the St. Antony Novena at St. Matia Mulumba Parish in Old Kampala.

The devotion, which began on January 26, 2016, with the installation of a grotto of St. Antony, has grown into a vibrant spiritual tradition. Every Tuesday at 8:00 PM, devotees gather to seek the intercession of St. Antony of Padua, followed by an act of charity serving meals to more than 200 street children.

When the COVID-19 pandemic halted physical gatherings, the community adapted by moving the Novena to online platforms, ensuring uninterrupted prayer. In addition to the St. Antony Novena, a special Novena to St. Sebastian was introduced, further strengthening the spiritual life of the faithful.

The 500th-week celebration featured testimonies of blessings attributed to St. Antony’s intercession, including marriages after long years of waiting, safe childbirths, job opportunities, healing from illness, and the recovery of lost items and people. Priests from Uganda and Kenya offered final blessings to mark the occasion.

The highlight of the event was the joint final blessings imparted by priests from Uganda and Kenya. Rev. Fr. George Athikalam, Rev. Fr. Franklin Parassery, Rev. Fr. George Nedumattom, and Rev. Fr. Babychan Pazhanilam together led the faithful in prayer, marking the occasion with spiritual strength and unity.

The event was held both in person at St. Matia Mulumba Parish and online, enabling participants across the globe to join in thanksgiving.

Community leaders said the milestone was a testament to faith, resilience, and service, highlighting how a humble weekly gathering had grown into a movement of prayer and compassion.