THE Feast of the Black Nazarene this coming Sunday will be sober for the second time due to a spike of local Covid-19 cases here.
Church officials canceled the “traslacion” or procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, previously a yearly ritual that usually starts at the Nazareno parish church to the Cagayan de Oro Metropolitan Cathedral on Jan. 8.
Monsignor Perseus Cabunoc, parish priest of the Nazareno church said instead the religious activity will start at 3 am on Jan.9.
Cabunoc said the image of the Black Nazarene would be brought out of the Nazareno church and carried on a vehicle on a motorcade around the city.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan will also break tradition by saying the Mass at the Nazareno church instead of at the Cagayan de Oro Metropolitan Cathedral.
In previous years, thousands of devotees would fill the streets of Cagayan de Oro during the “traslacion” or procession of the Black Nazarene until the Covid-19 pandemic started two years ago.
It is the only one of its kind in Mindanao and a much tamer version than that of Quiapo in Manila. Devotees who cannot afford the cost of traveling to Manila would instead flock here.
The procession on Sunday morning marked the third time when the life-size replica or the “Callejeron” of the Black Nazarene is brought out from the Nazareno church.
Last year, the religious icon was placed on the back of a truck and paraded around the city during its feast day. On Good Friday, the “Callejeron” was again paraded for those who got sick of the virus.
Nick Jabagat, head of the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they would put up steel barriers around the church to prevent the crowd from touching the image.
“Touching or wiping the image with handkerchiefs (will) be prohibited,” Jabagat said.
Jabagat said they will ensure only 20 vehicles join the motorcade on Sunday morning.
He said the Nazareno church would only hold 50 percent of its capacity to ensure social distancing.
Jabagat said they would not however require devotees to show their vaccination cards or QR codes when they enter the church.
The slight uptick of Covid-19 cases was reported in Cagayan de Oro prompting officials to strictly implement health protocols.
