Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo lauded devotees who celebrated the Feast Day of the Black Nazarene last Saturday at the Quiapo Church in Manila for showing discipline.
"The discipline of the devotees is truly remarkable. They expressed their devotion by coming even at great sacrifice but they are very considerate of the protocols and very patient indeed," he said in an interview Sunday.
"It cannot be said that the devotees of Nazareno are unruly," added Pabillo.
Photos on social media showed devotees who attended Mass both inside and outside the church wearing face masks and face shields while maintaining physical distancing in heed of the health protocols.
Devotees were also cited by Quiapo Church Rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel for their discipline.
"We are very happy because the devotees exhibited self-discipline and there was orderliness and systematic way of entering the church," he said.
Coronel believes that they observed all the necessary protocols, negating concern of the activity becoming a super spreader of the disease.
"We are praying that it won’t because we are observing dutifully the protocols. Even if there were many people, they have facemasks and all," he said.
"We were not remiss in our obligations as leaders...when there was crowding (in Quezon Boulevard) we were able to fix the situation with the police and so on," added Coronel.
He said many devotees actually heeded their call to stay home and follow the activities online or go to other parishes to reduce the crowd in Quiapo.
"We discouraged the people from coming and I think many did and followed the celebration online or in their own parishes," Coronel said.
"A huge number followed online. First two Masses alone more than 100,000," he added.
Coronel said based on their estimates, around 300,000 devotees attended the different Masses at Quiapo Church, San Sebastian Church, Sta. Cruz Church, and Nazarene Catholic School on Jan. 9.