Early mass, new route for “Traslacion”

CEBU, Philippines - An early mass and a new route are among the few changes that will be perceptible in this year’s foot procession for the images of the Sto. Niño and the Virgen dela Guadalupe.

Mario Advincula, president of the Parish Pastoral Council in Mandaue City said the Traslacion mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto .Niño will start at 5:30 a.m. on January 17.

After which the images will be brought to Innodata in barangay Subangdaku and will be received by Mayor Jonas Cortes and Msgr. Daniel Sanico.

The images will be brought to the National Shrine of St. Joseph.

 A welcome mass will start at 10 a.m. while vigil and the kissing of the holy images will start at 1 p.m. 

The kissing of the holy images will be allowed until midnight, according to Advincula in anticipation of the dawn mass the following day and the foot parade before the fluvial parade on January 18.

From the usual 4:30 mass before the fluvial parade, the mass this year will be held at 4 a.m. to be officiated by Msgr. Daniel Sanico and parochial vicars Fr. Philip Pepito and Fr. Camilus Estiso.

In the previous years, the route of the foot parade started at the National Shrine and proceeded to C. Ouano Street in barangay Looc then to the Ouano wharf.

But since the wharf is being renovated, a member of the Ouano clan where the holy images used to visit before the sent-off ceremony suggested to alter the route.

Although the galleon will still be provided by the family of businessman Ernesto Ouano, this year the holy images will no longer visit the family’s ancestral home but instead it will directly be brought to the galleon where only Archbishop Jose Palma and Mijares are allowed to board for a fluvial parade on the way back to the Basilica Minor del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.  (FREEMAN)