As Roman Catholics in the Philippines and around the world commemorate the feast of the traslacion of the revered Black Nazarene of Quiapo Sunday, Jan. 9, overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East will offer prayers in observance of the feast for an end to the pandemic.
Filipino Franciscan Capuchin priest Fr. Troy De Los Santos, vicar general of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA), said Black Nazarene devotees in the Middle East will join in the observance of the feast of the traslacion and will offer as their prayer intention the end of the health crisis that has gripped the world for the last two years.
A holy mass will be celebrated Sunday, Jan. 9, at 12 noon at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to be attended by a limited number of parishioners as a safety measure. The mass will be available online through the official Facebook page and YouTube channel of the Katolikong Pinoy sa Abu Dhabi.
“There will be no grand procession. We will limit our observance to solemn prayers to the Poong Hesus Nazareno ,” said Fr. De Los Santos over Radio Veritas.
The priest called on the members of the Kamanlalakbay na Katoliko in Abu Dhabi, Musaffah, Ruwais and Al Ain “to pray to the merciful heart of the Poong Hesus Nazareno for everyone’s safety.”
“We need to pray fervently and put our full trust in the Lord, our dear Black Nazarene, for an end to the pandemic. May the Lord grant us with peace of mind to address our fears for the safety of our loved ones in the Philippines,” Fr. De Los Santos said.
Katolikong Pinoy sa Abu Dhabi, Social Media director Rommel Pangilinan said that despite the pandemic, they will still observe the feast of the Black Nazarene but will do so with caution and concern for the safety of the devotees.
The Quiapo Church canceled for the second year the traslacion procession and all physical masses this Sunday, Jan. 9, amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Devotees are instead enjoined to join the by-the hour holy masses from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Christina Hermoso)