PASIG CITY, Dec. 19 (PIA) -- The Feast of the Black Nazarene will be "celebrated differently" in January next year to discourage the public, particularly the devotees, from trooping to Manila to celebrate the usually overcrowded event.
“There is no procession but the celebration will push through but there will be big and many changes in commemorating the feast of the Black Nazarene,” Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene told the PIA-NCR.
Badong said that the plan to localize the celebration bring the Black Nazarene to different places, to discourage the public, usually in the hundreds of thousands, trooping to see the icon.
“We will localize the celebration of Traslacion...we also urged parishes to celebrate the feast so that the people will celebrate in their areas,” he said.
The initial schedule of the Black Nazarene visits to different areas particularly in Manila and nearby cities will start on December 31, Hospicio de San Jose; San Lazaro hospital, January 1, 2021; Manila Cathedral, January 2; Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City, January 3; Manila City Hall, January 4; Bureau of Fire Prevention NHQ, Quezon City, January 5; Manila Police District, January 6 and Barangay 394, January 7 and January 8, NCS-BEC’s Community, Sto. Domingo Shrine, Quezon City.
It will also visit churches in Southern Luzon: Dec. 30-31 Antipolo Cathedral, Antipolo, Rizal; Jan. 2, Shrine of Padre Pio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Jan. 3, San Vicente Ferrer Parish, Binan, Laguna; Jan. 4, San Roque Parish/Porta Vaga, Cavite City; Jan. 5, San Isidro Parish Las Piñas City; Sto. Nino Parish, Signal Village, Taguig City and Jan. 7, Baclaran Church.
On the other hand, Badong added that only 30 percent of the seating capacity of the church will be allowed during Masses on the Black Nazarene's feast day on January 9, which will start as early as 4 a.m.
“After every mass, there will be an interval of several minutes, to let those who have attended the Mass to leave before we will let the new batch to come inside. There will be an ample to let people come in and come out of the church,” the Quiapo church official added.
The nearby Sta. Cruz Church and San Sebastian Church will also be celebrating masses on January 9, to encourage people to attend masses there instead of Quiapo church.
Also, they will be putting 14 prayer stations within the vicinity of the minor basilica, where people can also pray.
To recall, last January's 'Traslacion' was attended by an estimated 4 million devotees and its procession was among the fastest in recent history lasting for only 16 hours. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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