Feast Day of the Black Nazarene

How did the Black Nazarene devotion come to the parishes of San Pedro Cathedral and Sta. Ana Parish Shrine?

The San Pedro Cathedral’s Black Nazarene image came from Spain. Mila Gil, a devotee, and a member of the clan who donated the image to the Cathedral, recalls that it arrived in 1936 before the war. It must be about 77 years old now. It was given by the Capili family to her Lola Maxima Josol, wife of her uncle. It was a family devotion. Some details are not very clear but she remembers fondly those times when as very young children, she and her siblings would help decorate the carroza of the Black Nazarene for procession during the Holy Week. When did it get displayed or donated to the Cathedral? That she could not recall. The procession during Holy Week was started in 1949. At that time the image was already with the San Pedro Cathedral. However, in the mid 1990’s the image was no longer part of the procession during Holy Week. It has its own special feast day.

The image has not been entirely preserved. Some parts had been missing and had been replaced. They had been lost to overzealous devotees who must have taken them for some reason.
When the Cathedral underwent renovation and space became cramped, the Gil family requested it back and it stayed with them for 14 years. Some devotees had been looking for it. Their mother, now in her mid 90’s, would say that its rightful place is in the Cathedral. Monsignor Nards Vicente, the San Pedro Cathedral Parish Priest, visited the family in November 27 last year and saw the image.

Finally, the image returned to the Cathedral. The Novena started on December 31 that year and for the first time in years a procession was held in its honor on January 9, 2013, its feast day. What a glorious return it must be! The Mindanao-wide Black Nazarene Apostolate that usually holds fiesta mass in different parishes in Mindanao had chosen the San Pedro Cathedral. The fiesta mass was attended by devotees from all over Mindanao. For this year’s celebration, plans are still being discussed.

The Black Nazarene image in the Sta. Ana Parish was also donated by a parishioner during the time of the PME fathers. The oldest parish employee recalls that it had been there since she came in the 60’s. Its feast, however, was only celebrated during the time of Msgr. Paul Cuison. He assigned it to the Our Lady of Manaoag Devotees, led by Melanie Montillo. Five years, hence, a feast was regularly held in its honor every January 9. Devotees also come to say the novena prayer every Friday after the 5:30 mass.

The novena prayer for the fiesta on January 9, 2014 will be after the 6-7 PM mass, since it is the New Year. Regular schedule will follow for the succeeding days after the 5:30 PM mass. On Saturday and Sunday, novena will be after the 6 PM masses. On the feast day itself, procession of the image will be at 3 PM, novena at 5 PM and the fiesta mass at 5:30.

The fiesta celebration is spearheaded by the Sta. Ana Parish and supported by a group of Our Lady of Manaoag devotees.

The image is placed in the loft of the Sta. Ana Parish Shrine. There is a Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) leading to it. Devotees are to ascend the steps by kneeling as a sacrifice. They pick their prayers on the first step but only recite them when they reach the place. This is only allowed on certain occasions.
The image is brought down to the altar on December 31 and returned to the loft after all the festivities on the evening of January 9. According to Bro Rey Secuya, the first time the image was carried it required 15 men but found it too heavy. Later, they prayed before doing the task and 6 men found it too light.
Devotees come to the Black Nazarene. Maybe for different reasons but one common experience could be that they have a personal encounter with the Lord. Some come to seek healing and/or blessings. Others return to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Whatever reason one has, may this year’s celebration usher in real conversion.