MANILA (SE): Father Earl Allyson Valdez, attached priest at Quiapo Church, Manila, the Philippines said on November 17 that as the traditional traslacion [procession] that is part of the feast of the Black Nazarene, remains suspended, a procession called the Walk of Faith will be held instead on the eve of the feast on 8 January 2023, CBCPNews reported.
Father Valdez clarified, however, that “we will not process the image of the Black Nazarene. We instead encourage devotees to bring their own miniature replicas that they use for prayer and devotion,”
He said, “This Walk of Faith is done in order for us to gradually return to the practice of having a procession in honour of the Black Nazarene, but due to the pandemic, sans the image and with restrictions.”
Father Valdez encouraged those who plan to join the procession—whose route starts at the Quirino Grandstand and culminates at Quiapo Church, to bring candles, rosaries and face masks. While the route is still being finalised, he said that the procession will start at midnight “to prevent clogging of entry and exit points in Quiapo Church.”
Quiapo Church had earlier announced that the procession of Black Nazarene, usually held on January 9, would be suspended for the third straight year [Sunday Examiner, January 14] as Covid-19 continues to be a threat.
