Black Nazarene feast celebrated in Tigatto

Two days earlier than the traditional date annually observed at Quiapo Church, the Catholic faithful at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Chapel, DECA Homes Esperanza (DHE) Subdivision, Tigatto, Davao City, celebrated the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January 7.

Inside the Chapel one can find the full size replica of the Black Nazarene, which replica came all the way from Quiapo Church, and is permanently housed at the DHE chapel since August 2015.

Notwithstanding a light downpour on that day, believers at DHE subdivision as well as nearby areas flocked to the Chapel for the “traslacion” and for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. During the scheduled 6:00 in the morning procession, shod and barefooted devotees, solemnly praying and holding yellow and white balloons, followed the Black Nazarene around the route within the DHE subdivision, then back to the Chapel. Afterwards, the Holy Mass was celebrated at the said Chapel.

This “traslacion” is the second time since the full size replica was installed by Bishop George Rimando on August 18, 2015 at the Chapel. The first was celebrated last January 9, 2016.

Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban of DHE subdivision, together with the core group of Black Nazarene devotees at DHE and nearby areas (who regularly meet for a novena every Friday at 7:00 in the evening since the installation, except for Good Friday) and the developer of DHE, 8990 Housing Development Corporation, spearheaded the 2017 Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Chapel, DHE. (Atty. Leopoldo D. Española Jr., REB, REA)