The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as the Quiapo Church in Manila, is inviting faithful devotees of the Black Nazarene to attend the novena masses which will start on December 31 until January 9, 2021 for the celebration of the “Traslacion” amid the pandemic.

Church leaders who will celebrate the holy masses include Bishop Bartolome Santos of Iba, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches, Bishop Pablo David of Kalookan, Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro C. Bacani, Bishop Mylo Vergara of Pasig, Bishop Buenaventura Famadico of San Pablo, Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus, and Auxiliary Bishop Nolly Buco of Antipolo.

The “Traslacion” is the annual commemoration of the solemn transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila, to the Quiapo Church in 1787. Because of the pandemic, the scheduled the grand procession on January 9 as well as the traditional “Pahalik” at the Quirino Grandstand had been cancelled.

Manila Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo will preside over the feast day mass at 4 a.m. on January 9. The timely theme for the celebration is: “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong has appealed to devotees for understanding. “We need your cooperation and understanding for the changes.” The holy masses will be held by the hour to give more churchgoers a chance to attend. “We’ll have longer novenas. All the masses will be a novenary mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene,” he said. More monitors will also be installed around the church premises.

The priest is also encouraging churches from various parts of the country to hold novena masses for the Feast of the Black Nazarene “to localize the commemoration.” In areas where there are fewer COVID-19 cases, Badong said, churches may conduct their own motorcade or procession.