Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) is inviting the faithful to join the online holy masses on Sunday, Jan. 9, in commemoration of the feast of the Traslacion of the revered Black Nazarene.
The holy masses will be held by the hour starting at 4 a.m. to be presided by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, with the last mass to be celebrated at 9 p.m.
Fr. Badong said that even though devotees will temporarily not be able to gather in Quiapo Church, other churches around the country will be celebrating the feast so as to unify all the devotees. Holy masses will also be held in several countries organized by devotees of the Black Nazarene, he said.
"Before the surge in coronavirus cases, the Black Nazarene was able to visit several provinces in the country as a prelude to the feast,” Fr. Badong said.
Barring any changes in the alert level being imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Quiapo Church will re-open on Monday, Jan. 10, allowing 30 percent of the seating capacity of the church, said Fr. Badong.
The Traslacion procession and all other activities related to the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene were suspended for the second year due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic. Streets leading to the church will be manned by police personnel to prevent devotees from going near the church.
Cardinal Advincula, earlier, asked for the cooperation and understanding of the devotees of the Black Nazarene for the cancellation of the Traslacion procession and the physical masses.
His Eminence encouraged the devotees to join the online celebration of the Holy Masses “to welcome the Black Nazarene in their homes.”