MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula called on the faithful to care for one another amid the crisis brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, during the Mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“Lumuhod tayo sa pagdamay sa kapwa, magmalasakit tayo sa isa’t isa. Abutan natin ng pagkakawanggawa ang ating mga kapatid, lalo na ang mga nahihirapan ngayon,” Advincula said in his homily at the Quiapo Church.
Advincula assured Catholics that despite the plight of the Covid-19 pandemic on people’s lives and the cancellation of in-person Traslacion activities, the Black Nazarene remained present.
“Kami rin ay nalulungkot na hindi namin kayo makasama ngayon. Gayumpaman, nananalig tayo na hindi tayo pinababayaan ng Mahal na Señor, na hindi niya tayo iniiwanan na mag-isa at malayo sa kanya,” Advincula said.
“Hindi man tayo lahat makakadalaw sa Quiapo, ang Señor naman ang mismong dumadalaw sa ating mga pamilya at tahanan. Pumapasok siya sa ating puso at pinalalakas ang ating pag-asa at pinagbubuklod tayo sa pag-ibig,” he added.
2022 marked the second straight year the traditional procession of the Black Nazarene was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
All Masses celebrating the feast were broadcast online.
The country’s pandemic task force ordered the Quiapo Church closed to the public from Jan. 7 to 9 and prohibited in-person Masses for the Black Nazarene’s feast.
In a statement on Jan. 5, Advincula called on Black Nazarene devotees to exhibit devotion by caring for the safety of all.
“Umaasa kami sa inyong pakikiisa. Ipakita natin ang ating debosyon sa Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno sa ating pag-iisip nang makabubuti para sa bawat isa at pagmamalasakit para sa kaligtasan ng lahat,” Advincula said.
“[S]a pamamagitan ng makabagong teknolohiya, ang Señor Nazareno naman ang siyang dumalaw sa ating mga tahanan at pamilya,” he added.
This year, the Feast of the Black Nazarene coincided with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, marking the beginning of the Ordinary Time of the liturgical calendar.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15. Religious gatherings are allowed at 30 percent capacity for indoor venues and at 50 percent capacity outdoors. Ma. Alena O. Castillo and Mariel Celine L. Serquiña
