Jesus Nazareno feast to be celebrated nationwide for the first time — Quiapo Church official

The Feast of the Jesus Nazareno will be celebrated nationwide with the series of activities set to start on January 9, according to a Quiapo Church official on Friday.

“Makasaysayan ang ating piyesta sa taong ito sapagkat sa unang pagkakataon, ito ay hindi lang piyesta ng Quiapo o ng Maynila, kundi ng buong Pilipinas sa simbahan. It's what we call a liturgical feast,” Quiapo Church rector and bishop-elect Jun Sescon Jr. said in a press conference. (Sescon has been appointed by Pope Francis to head the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan.)

(Our feast this year is historic because for the first time, it is not just a feast of Quiapo or Manila, but of the churches in the entire Philippines. It's what we call a liturgical feast.)

“Kaya naman sa meeting na ito ng mga obispo, ito ay ipinakalat na. Kaya't hindi na rin naman ganun kailangan ng koordinasyon ng Quiapo, dahil sa bawat diocese, sa bawat parokya, ito ay kanilang ipagdiriwang,” he added.

(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.)

Sescon said the application to declare Jesus Nazareno feast as a national feast was submitted to the Vatican together with the application to declare Quiapo Church as a national shrine.

“Noong nag-apply tayo ng national shrine ay ito ay na-approve ng mga obispo ng Pilipinas. At kasabay noong application sa national shrine ay yung national feast. Ito ay isinumbit ng mga obispo sa Roma,” he said.

(When we applied for a national shrine, it was approved by the bishops of the Philippines. The application for national feast was submitted together with the application for national shrine of Quiapo church. The bishops then sent these to Rome.)

“Noong nagkaroon ng kapulungan ang mga liturgista, yung in charge sa lahat ng pagdiriwang sa buong Pilipinas noong August or September if I am not mistaken of this year, doon in-announce na ang January 9 ay liturgical feast sa buong bansa at kung saan man merong Pilipino,” he added.

(When there was a meeting of the liturgists, who are in charge of all celebrations throughout the Philippines in August or September, if I am not mistaken, of this year, it was announced that January 9 is a liturgical feast throughout the country and other areas with Filipinos.)

Sescon said the Feast of Jesus Nazareno joins the Feast of Santo Niño as one of the national feasts that are unique to the Philippines.

With the national celebration, Sescon said they are expecting the number of devotees who will flock to Quiapo Church on the feast day will be reduced as some of them may celebrate at their local churches. — BAP, GMA Integrated News