PRAY, FOCUS
About 11,000 turned up for the Traslacion, one of the Fiesta Señor rituals focused on the Sto. Niño, where a priest challenged them to show tenderness to fellow humans
Holding balloons, streamers and their own Sto. Niño icons, at least 11,000 devotees welcomed the images of the Holy Child and the Virgin of Guadalupe during the Traslacion in Mandaue City yesterday.
Before the procession, a priest urged the devotees to show love and compassion not only to their family, but also to other people, to nature, and even criminals.
In his homily during the Traslacion mass yesterday, Fr. Manuel Tan called on the faithful to make the world a “better place” by demonstrating love, compassion and sensitivity to their fellowmen.
Tan, who heads the team of pastors of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also mentioned the alleged killings of drug suspects in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
Tan reminded the faithful that love should not only be exclusive for loved ones but even persons who are detested by society, such as drug users and pushers.
“If you’re happy over the death of a drug addict, will you also be happy if your child or a family member is killed after sur- rendering in Operation Tokhang?” Tan asked in Cebuano.
He urged the faithful not to find joy in the misfortune of others and instead show compassion for those unjustly wronged. Tan also emphasized the need to develop a sense of love and compassion by starting it in the family.
“Let’s strive to show universal relationship starting within our own families,” he added.
After the mass, which was preceded by the Penitential Walk for Jesus, the images of the Sto. Niño and the Lady of Guadalupe were brought to Mandaue for the Traslacion, the procession that signifies the importance of the family through the reunion of the Holy Family.
Balloons and firecrackers were prohibited on the Traslacion route, but a few devotees still used these to welcome the Sto. Niño yesterday morning.
Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna were joined by parents, children, students and workers of different companies in the city at the Traslacion route before receiving the icons of Sto. Niño and the Virgin of Guadalupe past 8 a.m.
They proceeded to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph for the holy mass.
Except for a senior citizen who collapsed because she found it difficult to breathe while stuck in the crowd, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) did not record any untoward incident during the event.
Police and city officials commended the devotees for their discipline while waiting for their turn to go near the image of the Sto. Niño and to touch and kiss the relic.
Supt. Jimmy Aguisanda, deputy city director for operations of MCPO, said there were more than 6,000 devotees on the church grounds alone.
A total of 701 police and force multipliers were assigned along the route. Before this morning’s fluvial procession, the images will be brought to the Ouano Wharf in a foot procession, passing C. Ouano St. before turning right to C. M. Cabahug St. to goto the wharf.
Everything went well. The people in the city were disciplined and heeded the request of the security personnel. SUPT. JIMMY AGUISANDA, Deputy City Director for Operations, MCPO