By Leo Udtohan
The procession, which started at around 3:30 a.m., was a 13-kilometer walk which brought back the image of the Nazarene back from Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran to the Assumption of Our Lady Shrine Parish in Dauis town where the image is housed.
The Nazarene’s carriage and glass-encased urn was covered with few flowers.
Many in the procession didn’t bring umbrellas. They were drenched barely two hours into the procession, but stayed on, chanting prayers and singing hymns to the Nazarene.
The procession passed through J. A. Clarin Street, then proceeded to Plaza Rizal rotonda, St. Joseph the Worker Shrine-Parish, Burgos Street, and Borja Bridge, and to the Assumption of Our Lady Shrine Parish (Dauis church) at around 5 a.m.
Police estimated the crowd of devotees at about 2,000.
Policemen were deployed on road intersections and along the procession route together with several security volunteers and barangay tanods.
However, the rain stopped when it reached Dauis town to the delight of the devotees.
For government employee Edward Guyano, it was sign of a miracle. Though he and others got wet, he said it was only a little sacrifice compared to the sacrifices of the Nazarene to the humanity.
It was followed by a Pontifical Mass officiated by Bishop Abet Uy.
"Daghan ang naulanan apan wala mahadlok. Atong i-ampo nga kitang tanan, ilabina na ang mga kabatan-onan, madasig sa pagsunod sa panag-ingnan sa Poong Nazareno. Dili na kita mahadlok sa mga hagit ug kalisdanan sa kinabuhi," said Uy during his homily.
(Many got wet because of the rain but did not fear. Let's pray that all of us, especially the youth, will be encouraged to follow the example of Poong Nazareno. That we are no longer afraid of life's challenges and difficulties.)
"Kung aduna may mga suliran ug pagsuway dili ubta ta mawad-an og paglaum. Let us be strong like the Poong Nazareno for we know that difficult roads will bring us to heaven and to eternal life," he added.
(If there are problems and trials, we should never lose hope. Let us be strong like the Poong Nazareno for we know that difficult roads will bring us to heaven and to eternal life.)
On the feast day, Jan. 9, Eucharastic celebrations will be held at 6:30 a.m. and 5 p. m. It will be followed by a mobile procession at 6 p.m.
The replica of the image of the Black Nazarene was given as a gift by the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila for the 80th canonical anniversary of the Diocese of Tagbilaran last November 2021. It is temporarily housed at Dauis Church until constructon of his shrine will finish.
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Photo caption:
Heavy spells of rains could not dissuade the faithful from joing the traslacion or Walk of Faith for the Black Nazarene in Bohol province on Sunday early morning, Jan. 8, 2023.
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