Aside from the cities of Manila and Davao, the Black Nazarene traslacion procession will also be held in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan invited the faithful to join the annual procession while reflecting on the essence of the intense devotion to the Poong Hesus Nazareno.
“To our dear faithful and all devotees of the Black Nazarene especially here in the archdiocese and beyond. Let us with grateful hearts praise God for the bounteous blessings He has given us. The greatest blessing is of course His only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour who is born for us and journeys with us. He sustains, comforts and consoles us in all our undertakings amidst the various challenges we encounter in our lives,” said Archbishop Cabantan over Radio Veritas.
Archbishop Cabantan stressed that Jesus is always with us in all the journeys that we take particularly in times of difficulties.
“His birth grants us strength and inspiration to carry on in our journey as one people. His passion and carrying the cross we ought to carry gives us hope despite the burdens that we bear in our life’s journey. We are not alone then in facing all the trials we encounter in our lives. God is always with us, our Emmanuel! Happy Feast Day of Jesus Nazareno,” the Church leader said.
The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) gifted the archdiocese with a pilgrim image of the revered Poong Hesus Nazareno on Jan. 5, 2009.
The image was brought to the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral. On the same year, the first Black Nazarene procession was held in Northern Mindanao.
Archbishop Cabantan said the traslacion procession in Cagayan de Oro is quite similar to the Walk of Faith held by the Quiapo Church last year. In 2023, an estimated 10,000 devotees joined the procession in Cagayan de Oro City.