The Quiapo Church on Friday bared alternative plans to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, 2021, following the cancellation of the annual Translacion due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Parochial Vicar Fr. Douglas Badong said they are planning to conduct more novena masses that will start from dawn until night.
“Hahabaan natin ang nobinaryo. Lahat ng misa dito sa Quiapo ay magiging misa-nobena para sa kapistahan ng Nazareno. Oras oras po ‘yan (We’ll have longer novenas. All of the masses held in Quiapo Church will be a novenary mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene. It will be conducted hourly),” Badong told DZMM in an interview.
Badong said the Quiapo Church will “localize” the annual celebration by encouraging churches from different parts of the Philippines to hold novena masses for the Feast of the Black Nazarene as well.
In areas where there are fewer COVID-19 cases, Badong said churches can conduct their own motorcade or procession.
“Mas mararamdaman ng mga tao ang presensya ng Poong Hesus Nazareno lalo na’t higit ang mensahe niya para sa pagdiriwang ng kapistahan (The people will feel the Black Nazarene’s presence even more, especially His message for the celebration of the feast),” Fr. Badong said.
More monitors
More monitors will also be set up in entry points of the Quiapo Church so devotees can watch the masses through the screens, according to Badong.
“Maglalagay kami sa paligid para di sila siksikan sa loob ng Quiapo (We will set up monitors around the church so that the church will not be congested),” the priest said.
Image of Black Nazarene
Badong said the church is also eyeing to display the image of the Black Nazarene as early as December so devotees can get a glimpse of it.
“Ang pinaka imahen ay ilalabas namin para makita po ito ng mga tao, di lang nila mahahawakan, pero at least makikita po nila (We will put the image of the Black Nazarene on display, devotees will not be allowed to touch it, but at least they are able to see it),” the priest said.
Badong said the church is also adjusting other schedules for the celebration such as the blessing of the replicas.
The parochial vicar said the blessing might be done earlier than usual.
No to barefoot
Another tradition that devotees might have to put on hold this year is walking barefoot for the feast.
Badong discouraged devotes from going barefoot due to the possibility of droplets sticking to their feet.
For devotees who cannot go to Quiapo Church, Badong said they are planning to bring images of the Black Nazarene around churches north and south of Manila.
“From Batangas pabalik ng (it will retrun to) Quiapo, from Pangasinan pabalik ng (it will retrun to) Quiapo,” Badong said.
“May tatlong imahen po ang iikot sa iba’t ibang lugar para maranasan man lang nila kahit isang araw ang novena dito sa Quiapo (There will be three images which will go around churches in different areas so devotees can experience at least a day of novena masses in Quiapo),” he said.