MANILA, 7 January (PIA) – Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, better known as the Quiapo Church, rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel called on to devotees of the Black Nazarene to celebrate the feast for a meaningful celebration on Saturday, January 9, 2016.
“Let us all have a more meaningful celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene more than participating in the actual procession,” said Coronel.
He also appealed to the devotees to cooperate with authorities, be sensitive to other people and hold orderly procession from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. More than 1,500 policemen would be deployed to secure one of the country’s biggest religious processions.
Millions of devotees are expected to join in this year’s feast. “Our experience here in the Philippines is that the number of devotees increase each year,” Msgr. Coronel said
He likewise urged the faithful to attend the novena masses at the Quiapo Church, go to confession and join in the prayers.
The procession, which will traverse the same route as last year, will be preceded by the “Pahalik” or the veneration of the Black Nazarene image on January 8 at 8 a.m. while the overnight vigil will start at 7 p.m.
At 12 midnight of January 9, a Mass to be presided over by Msgr. Coronel will be held with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the homilist.
Cardinal Tagle will then lead the Liturgy of the Hours at 5 a.m. to be immediately followed by the procession.
For devotees abroad and those who can’t join this year’s procession, Quiapo parish is live streaming the celebration at its website, www.quiapochurch.com.
Meanwhile, Msgr. Coronel also asked to candidates for the May 2016 elections to refrain from putting streamers and posters along the route of the procession to increase their popularity.
“Our focus is the Black Nazarene. Let’s give Him our due respect and love,” said Coronel.
The priest also warned against distribution of shirts bearing not only an image of the Black Nazarene but also names and faces of politicians.
“We discourage those things,” he added.
The wooden Black Nazarene, carved in Mexico and brought to Manila in the early 17th century, is cherished by Catholics who believe it performs miracles.
The Black Nazarene procession is one of the country’s biggest religious events with millions of devotees attending every year. (CBCP/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)
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