Black Nazarene devotees in Cardona, Rizal attend novena masses ahead of Jan. 9 feast day
By Nel Andrade
Just like in Quiapo, Manila, devotees of the Black Nazarene in Cardona, Rizal have started attending the novena masses in a chapel in the town in anticipation of its January 9 feast day.
Enshrined at the altar of the Hesus Nazareno Chapel in Barangay Looc, a lakeshore community in Cardona, Rizal, the image of the Black Nazarene, popularly known as "Amba" among devotees, is the center of devotion in the community during this time coinciding with the feast day in Quiapo, Manila.
The Cardona’s Black Nazarene is similar to the Quaipo’s image except that the wooden image appears new and its face and hands are brown.
During Holy Week, the Cardona’s image is transferred from one house to another with the host family sponsoring the food of those who are scheduled to pray or those joining the vigil.
Some residents have testified about answered prayers and miracles attributed to their devotion to Cardona’s Nazareno.
The praying of the Holy Rosary and novena happens every 5 p.m. while the Holy Mass is celebrated at 6 p.m.
On the feast day on Jan. 9, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto C. Santos is scheduled to officiate a Holy Mass at 9 a.m., according to initial information from the chapel.