Celebrate feast at home, Black Nazarene devotees urged

FILE: TRASLACION 2019. Devotees of the Black Nazarene try to get near the andas carrying the image of the miraculous image as it heads to Quiapo Church from the Quirino Grandstand on Wednesday (Jan. 9, 2019). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – An official of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, known as Quiapo Church, on Tuesday urged devotees to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the comfort of their homes.

Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector and parish priest of the basilica, said God will be able to hear their prayers while they celebrate the feast inside their houses.

“This is the only time that the parish priest, asked the devotees that they not need to go to the feast. We’re just asking you to pray inside your homes, stay at home, pray together with your families we will be able to get the grace,” he said in an article posted on the Radio Veritas website.

Coronel celebrated the Mass at the Quiapo Church in Manila on Monday as part of the localized celebration of the feast where the Black Nazarene image is visiting local government units (LGUs) and provinces.

He reminded those who would like to go to Quiapo Church on Quezon Boulevard, Manila to strictly follow the health protocols by the government since the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains.

“To devotees, whom we cannot stop from going to Quiapo church, let’s follow! We should always wear face mask, face shield, bring alcohol and practice physical distancing,” he added.

Coronel is also praying for a safe, peaceful, and healthy celebration of the feast on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the basilica said they are hoping that only a few devotees will visit the church on Saturday.

“We’re expecting and hopefully less number of devotees compared to the usual attendees of annual celebrations for us to implement the protocols and social distancing since there is still the pandemic,” he said in an interview. “But we have an alternative which is the localized celebration on January 9, all parish priests are encouraged to celebrate also.”

This year, the traditional ‘Traslacion’ or the traditional grand procession from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Quiapo Church is canceled as mass gatherings remain prohibited due to the pandemic.