The traditional “traslacion” or procession of the image of the Black Nazarene in Manila’s Quiapo district will push through next year.
This was announced by Monsignor Hernando Coronel, rector of Quiapo church, even as he said that the religious celebration might be be “scaled down” due to the pandemic.
“We hope the traslacion pushes through although it will be very much scaled down,” he said on September 17.
Asked if scaling down means limiting the procession route to the Quiapo district area only, the priest said it is something that has to be discussed with the organizers.
Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the church, said organizers are already discussing the activity but only among themselves as they have yet to meet with other stakeholders.
“We are preparing for the worst case scenario,” he said, adding that if the authorities will not allow the activity, a Mass will just be celebrated.
“We really need to prepare for the traslacion,” said the priest.
Authorities earlier said they would look into the motorcade that brought out the image of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Monday, September 14, for possible violations of quarantine protocols.
The venerated image of the Black Nazarene was brought out of Manila’s Quiapo church to mark the Feast of the Holy Cross.
The three-hour activity provided thousands of devotees a glimpse of the life-size image of what is believed to be a miraculous image of a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ.
Church officials said they will cooperate with the investigation.
