Hundreds of people thronged the Basilica for confessions and counselling on the 31st of August 2016, the 3rd anniversary of the St Mary's Basilica. This culminated with Mass at 5:30pm celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Alex Thomas. In his homily he emphasised on the Church as the people of God, it's the people who make the Church not the building. The Basilica is meant to be a spiritual centre where people find and experience the love and mercy of God. The Archbishop urged the people to seek the kingdom of God first and shun materialism.