Former Apostolic Administrator of Manila Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo told Nazareno devotees not to limit their expression of faith through Traslacion.

“Ang Traslacion is just a manifestation of our love for Jesus. Ang mahalaga yung love for Jesus ay nandiyan. Naipapakita din sa ibang paraan,” Bishop Pabillo told the Archdiocesan Office of Communications (AOC) in an interview.

“Yan yung mensahe sa atin, let us not just limit ang ating debosyon sa pagpunta sa Quiapo, sa pagsama sa Traslacion kasi pati ang ating pagsisismba ay yan din ay pagsamba sa Panginoong Hesus at lalung lalo na ngayong araw ay Kapistahan ng Pagbibinyag ni Hesus. Makikita natin ang kahalagahan ni Hesus sa ating kaligtasan,” the Bishop added.

This is the second year that the celebration of Traslacion was canceled due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the Traslacion, all other activities related to its feast were suspended. Quiapo Church was closed to the public from January 7-9, 2022. All physical masses were suspended and were only celebrated online. The cancellation was recommended by the government to avoid the influx of devotees from the threat of Omicron, the new variant of COVID-19.

“Yung cancellation ng Traslacion, for the sake of the common good, na hindi kumakalat yung hawa, we accept that. Kaya sinasabihan namin yung mga devotees, that you can still show your devotion in other ways tulad ng pag-oonline Mass, tulad ng pagsisimba sa iba’t ibang mga simbahan na bukas pa kasi kinalat naman ang debosyon ng Poong Nazareno sa ibang mga simbahan,” said Bishop Pabillo.

“Naintindihan naman ng Panginoon iyan, sinabi ko sa Banal na Misa na nakikita naman ng Diyos ang ating kagustuhan ng ating puso, hindi lang tayo makapunta out of our control. Pero yung ating pagmamahal sa Poong Nazareno ay napapansin ng Panginoon yan,” he added.

The Vicar Apostolic of Taytay, Palawan has also shared his thoughts on how the cancellation of Traslacion for the second time affects the devotee’s faith in the Nazareno.

“Sa mga talagang totoong deboto, malalim na ang debosyon, hindi magkakaroon ng epekto kasi malalim na ang kanilang pundasyon. Kaya yan po ay makakatulong pa nga sa kanilang mas ma-purify ang kanilang debosyon,” he said.

“Pero yung mga tao na dumadating lang kasi nadadala lang ng iba, hindi naman talaga debosyon, parang wala ring nawala kasi wala naman silang debosyon,” he added.

The Bishop also encouraged the Black Nazarene devotees not to worry and not to be discouraged especially during this time of the pandemic. He told them that the very essence of why we come to Jesus is to worship him and this can be expressed in various ways like praying together at home, helping the needy and attending Mass in various churches.

“Nasusukat ang ating magagawa sa pamamagitan ng ating sama samang pagdadasal,” said Bishop Pabillo.

Traslacion is the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church and was yearly held every January 9. (Jheng Prado/RCAM-AOC | Photo from Quiapo Church Facebook Page)