Over 89K devotees attend Fiesta Masses at Quiapo Church for Nazareno 2025

More than 89,000 people went to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or Quiapo Church to hear the hourly Fiesta Masses for the 2025 Feast of Jesus Nazareno, a church official said Thursday. 

Nazareno 2025 and Quiapo Church spokesperson Fr. Robert Arellano said that their crowd tally started at 3 p.m. on Wednesday when the Fiesta Masses began. Since then, Masses have been conducted every hour until 11 p.m. on Thursday. 

LIST: Schedule of Fiesta Masses for Nazareno 2025

“Ayon sa ating command center, tayo ay nakakapagtala na ng mahigit-kumulang 89,000 na mga deboto na nagsimba dito sa loob ng Quiapo Church,” the priest said in an Unang Balita interview.

(According to our command center, we have recorded more than 89,000 devotees who attended the masses here inside of Quiapo Church.) 

“Kung pagbabasehan naman natin ‘yung mga naganap na gawain sa Quirino Grandstand, mahigit 1 milyong mga deboto ang naitala natin,” he added. 

(In Quirino Grandstand, more than a million devotees attend the activities there.) 

The Traslacion or the procession of the centuries-old image of Jesus Nazareno officially started at 04:41 a.m. on Thursday. It will be brought from the Quirino Grandstand to its home at Quiapo Church.

Arellano reminded devotees that the Church will not condemn wherever they want to commemorate the Feast as long as they try to be holy and good people. 

“Kahit saan o anumang gawain ang kanilang pinupuntahan at sila’y nagpa-participate, ang pinakamahalaga dito ay ang pagbabago ng kanilang puso kung saan sila mas nakikita nilang mas magiging banal sila. Hindi natin kinokondena kung sila man ay dumalo sa Quirino Grandstand or magsimba dito sa Quiapo, basta may pagbabago sa kanilang sarili. Io ang ikinagagalak namin,” he said. 

(No matter where they go or what activity they participate in, the most important thing here is that they change their heart to become more holy. We do not condemn whether they go to Quirino Grandstand or hear mass here in Quiapo, as long as there will be a change in themselves. That is what we will be happy about.) 

The Fiesta Misa Mayor was held earlier at midnight at the Quirino Grandstand, presided over by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, Jr.

In his homily, Advicula urged devotees of Jesus Nazareno to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ over temptations. He also said influencing oneself with money, vices, and evildoers will only lead to failure and despair.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News