Other churches to celebrate Masses for the Black Nazarene
MANILA – Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector of the Basilica Minore of St. John the Baptist where the revered Black Nazarene is housed said he called on other parishes within the Archdiocese of Manila to mark the feast with Masses tomorrow.
He said he also requested the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo to at least celebrate one Mass to mark the feast of the Black Nazarene. The other dioceses within the National Capital Region are the Dioceses of Kalookan, Pasig, Cubao and Parañaque. The other dioceses under the Archdiocese of Manila are Antipolo, Imus, San Pablo, and the Apostolic Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay, both in Palawan.
The celebration in the different parishes is to encourage Black Nazarene devotees to attend the feast in their respective areas and refrain from flocking to the popular Quiapo church.
They introduced the localized celebrations where the image of the Black Nazarene visited different cities and provinces.
Msgr. Coronel called on the devotees not to walk barefooted because there is no carriage that would go on procession with the image of the Black Nazarene.
Many activities have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic including the traditional “traslacion” or the procession of the revered image from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the basilica minore.
This year, the Black Nazarene will be placed outside the balcony of the Quiapo Church for the devotees to see and pray to
Devotees pray before the image of the Black Nazarene at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. Other churches will celebrate Masses in honor of the Black Nazarene so their residents would not travel to Quiapo and endanger them with COVID-19 infection. (Melo M. Acuna)