The City of Manila is ready for the holding of the Black Nazarene festivities on Friday (January 9) which will begin with praise and worship at 12:30 a.m. then the continuation of seven last stations of the cross at 2 a.m. and a concelebrated mass by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta at 7 a.m..
The entire route to be used by the Callejeron or procession of the image of the Black Nazarene will be adequately secured and ambulances will be made available for devotees who might suffer from headaches and other ailments. The procession will immediately follow the mass at Luneta passing through 10 major thoroughfares before reaching its final site in Quiapo Church by 3 p.m.
The procession route is as follows: Luneta, Burgos St., McArthur Bridge, Rizal Avenue, Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, Arlegui St., Quezon Boulevard, Palanca Street, Villalobos Street, Plaza Miranda and Quiapo Church/Basilica.
Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim is the Hermano Mayor in this year’s feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
On the eve of the Nazarene fiesta, a healing mass will be celebrated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani at 5 p.m. and the kissing of the Nazarene image will be held at 7 p.m. at the Quirino Grandstand.
A similar Callejeron or procession of the Nazarene that was airlifted to Cagayan de Oro City will be held for the sake of Nazarene devotees in Mindanao.