Traslacion 2024

The black Nazarene, or Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, is one of the biggest devotional fiestas in the Philippine Catholic Church. Widely known as a miraculous image, it draws millions of devotees around the archipelago.

The Archdiocese of Davao was blessed with an official image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno from the minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila. It was the 10th of its kind. The said image was donated to the president of the 8990 holdings, the developer of Deca Homes. They then decided to put or enshrine the miraculous image to the newly established Deca Homes Esperanza in Brgy. Tigatto, Davao City, particularly what is now known as Our Lady of Peñafrancia GKK Chapel under the jurisdiction of San Alfonso Ma. de Liguori Parish in Mandug. The image was installed on August 16th, 2015, and the installation mass was presided over by Most Rev. George Rimando, D.D., auxiliary bishop of Davao. The devotion has started to grow and draw hundreds of devotees from different parts of the archdiocese and nearby dioceses. Since then, the yearly activities of the devotional fiesta have been adopted from the traditional activities in Manila.

Traslacion is the transfer of the image from one place to another via foot procession. In the Archdiocese of Davao, the preparation starts on December 31st with the traditional pabihis, or changing of clothes for the miraculous image. The vestments were woven by the devotees of the Black Nazarene in Deca. Misa Novenario then follows at 6 p.m. every day since the start of the novena. The image was moved from Deca Esperanza chapel to San Alfonso Ma. De Liguori Parish in Mandug on January 6th and was housed there for 3 days for public veneration. On the day of the fiesta, the traditional traslacion took place at 8 in the morning from the parish premises back to GKK Our Lady of Peñafrancia, where it was permanently enshrined. Hundreds of devotees joined the traslacion. The Holy Mass took place at 10 a.m. and was celebrated by Most Rev. Romulo Valles, D.D. with three concelebrating priests, namely Rev. Fr. Jemasol Ortiz, parish priest of San Alfonso Parish, Rev. Fr. Christopher Concepcion of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, or TOR, and Rev. Fr. Alan Fiel from the Diocese of Tandag. The chapel’s capacity was full inside and outside as devotees flocked to join the Holy Mass. Since there have been few to no restrictions on COVID-19, significant numbers of devotees were expected to attend the mass. The chapel can accommodate 500–700 churchgoers, according to their servant leaders. After the mass, the devotees were given the chance to touch the image; they were also allowed to kiss the image as long as they wore face masks. A salo-salo took place after the celebration of the Mass. The event was well coordinated with the authorities for the devotee’s security. Devotees were also instructed to follow the culture of security in Davao City. Overall, the Traslacion in the Archdiocese was a success. (Jomar Earl Narciso)