New Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown on Sunday, Jan. 10, thanked all those who helped make this year's Feast of the Black Nazarene successful and safe.
“As we receive the Eucharist today we thank God for the gift of our Catholic faith. We thank God for the gift of the very successful traslacion of the Black Nazarene yesterday,” he said during a Mass at Quiapo Church in Manila.
“ behalf of Pope Francis, thank you volunteers who worked so hard yesterday to make sure that in this time of COVID-19 the traslacion was done in manner as possible,” added Brown.
It was the first time the nuncio presided over a mass at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church in Manila.
Brown, who arrived in the country November 2020, has already celebrated mass at the Manila Cathedral, St Anthony of Padua Parish-Singalong, Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat (San Beda), and San Felipe Neri Parish-Mandaluyong.
In his homily, the nuncio asked the faithful to “live our Catholic life to the full, receive the sacraments, and live according to the teachings of Christ.”
Quiapo Church Rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel thanked the nuncio for presiding over the mass.
“He is new to our country and his presence gives us hope, gives us life, and he reflects the Vatican, the Holy City, the person of Pope Francis,” he said.
“We are grateful for the presence of Abp. Charles Brown. Thank you,” added Coronel.
Other officials from the Apostolic Nunciature also attended the mass.