Nazarene volunteers to attend special mass
A special mass for volunteers in the Feast of the Black Nazarene will be held today, a first in the history of arguably the biggest devotion of Filipino Catholics.
Alex Irasca, an officer of the organizing committee of the annual procession, said the mass will be held at the
Quirino Grandstand at 7 a.m., specially intended for government personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Health tasked to secure and provide assistance for the annual feast attended by millions of faithful.
Irasca said the mass is also intended for private volunteers, including those from the medical profession, as well as members of media covering the events of the feast.
“We are inviting all our volunteers to attend this special mass so all of us will be blessed by the Black Nazarene. We will also be given the privilege to experience the ‘pahalik’ before the start of our procession,” he said.
Irasca said the organizing committee tapped by the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or St. John the Baptist Parish, more popularly known as Quiapo Church, has decided to provide the special mass for volunteers this year after consultation with the volunteers themselves.
“Based on study and dialogue with police and soldier volunteers, we pity them because they have not been given the opportunity in the past to experience the blessing of our Señor Nazareno,” he said.
Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector of Quiapo Church, said the special mass would be exclusive for the volunteers.
He said Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, would celebrate the mass.
“We will not open it to the public so the volunteers would be given the chance to touch the Nazareno for their personal intentions,” he bared.