Feast of Jesus Nazareno to be celebrated nationwide for the first time — Quiapo Church official
Devotees gathered in Quiapo, Manila, and nearby areas on Thursday, 2 January, to have their replicas of the “Jesus Nazareno,” also known as the Black Nazarene, blessed under a footbridge near Quiapo Church. The blessing of these replicas and the estandarte is part of the lead-up to the Black Nazarene feast on 9 January.
Aram Lascano
The Feast of Jesus Nazareno is set to be celebrated nationwide for the first time, an official of the Quiapo Church revealed Friday.
Quiapo Church Rector and Bishop-elect Jun Sescon Jr. said this year’s celebration will be historical.
“For the first time, it is not just a feast of Quiapo or Manila, but of the churches in the entire Philippines,” Sescon said in Filipino during a press conference.
Sescon said they will call it a “liturgical feast,” with a series of activities set to begin 9 January.
“That's why during the meeting of the bishops, this was already disseminated. So there is no need for coordination from Quiapo because in every diocese, in every parish, they will celebrate it,” he added.
The bishop-elect said the application to declare Feast of Jesus Nazareno as a national feast was submitted to the Vatican along with the application to declare Quiapo Church as a national shrine.
Feast of Jesus Nazareno joins the Feast of Santo Niño as one of the national feasts that are unique to the country.
The National Capital Region Police Office said it is set to deploy over 14,000 personnel to ensure safety and security during the Feast of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila.
The Feast of Jesus Nazareno, celebrated every 9th of January, draws millions of devotees from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.