Opening salvo for Sinulog 2013 set on Thursday

CEBU, Philippines - The opening salvo of the religious activities of the Sinulog 2013 is scheduled on Thursday with the first day of the nine-day novena masses and the traditional walk with Jesus at dawn.

Thousands of Catholics and members of the clergy are expected to converge at Fuente Osmeña for the penitential walk to the Basilica del Sto. Niño at 4:30 a.m. on January 10.

 The first of the nine-day novena masses will be held at 5:30 a.m. immediately after the penitential walk wherein this year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayores will be installed by Rev. Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA.

This year’s feast of the Sto. Niño has a theme “Journeying Together in Faith with Sto. Niño”.

The traditional nine-day novena masses before the Sinulog will be sponsored by the different government and non-government organizations, schools and universities, praying communities as well as the different parishes in the archdiocese of Cebu.

The following are the daily schedules for the novena mass; 5:30, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:00 in the morning, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, 5:30 and 7:00 in the afternoon.

The Sinulog Foundation will also open the cultural aspects of the celebration on January 11 at 2:30 p.m. The event will be led by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and the Cebu City Hall officials.

On January 18, a dawn procession with Mary will be held from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Basilica. At 8:30 pm, night high school teachers of the Department of Education will do the reenactment of the first wedding.

On January 19, Saturday, will be the yearly fluvial procession and the re-enactment of the first mass and baptism. A solemn procession of the miraculous image will follow at 1:30 pm which will be headed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

A pontifical mass to be celebrated by Palo Archbishop John Du will follow after the solemn procession. On the Sinulog Day, January 20, the traditional mañanita mass will be held at 4:00 am.

A Thanksgiving Day will be observed on January 21 wherein a mass for the Overseas Filipino Workers and the Apostleship of the Sea will be held at 8:00 am. 

The “hubo” ritual or the undressing of the Sto. Niño image is scheduled on January 25. The mass will start at 4:00 am with Fr. Jonas Mejares as celebrant. — (FREEMAN)