The procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila on January 9, 2019. FILE PHOTO
The grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene would not be held for the third straight year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a Quiapo Church official announced on Thursday.
Fr. Earl Allyson Valdez, attached priest of the Quiapo Church, said other Traslacion-related activities would push through, including the touching of the image of the Black Nazarene.
“Bagamat walang tradisyunal na prusisyon, ay ang lahat ng ating nakagawiang aktibidades na may kinalaman sa kapistahan ng Itim na Nazareno ay matutuloy,” Valdez said in a Dobol B radio interview.
The priest said that the decision to suspend the grand procession was reached to protect devotees from Covid-19.
“Ang aming layunin ay kung hindi makapupunta para sa Traslacion, ay ang Nazareno na mismo ang tutungo sa kani-kanilang lugar at simbahan,” he said.
During the Traslacion, devotees walk barefoot from the Quirino grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in commemoration of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from San Nicolas de Tolentino Church inside Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787.
The Quiapo Church will celebrate hourly Masses starting 12 a.m. on Jan. 9 for the feast of the Black Nazarene.
In October, the big procession of La Naval de Manila in Quezon City pushed through for the first time since the pandemic. John Ezekiel J. Hirro