CEBU, Philippines - A bigger crowd of devotees are expected to attend the Penitential Walk with Mary today during the culmination of the nine-day Novena Mass for the Miraculous Child Jesus.
Jonas Mejares, the new rector and overall chairman of the Sinulog activities of the Church, said he expects a bigger crowd based on what he has seen during last week’s Walk with Jesus which gathered more than 30,000 people.
“Mas daghan gyud karun akong tan-aw kay maayo ang paghatag sa information about the event, kato ganing pagsugod sa atong Walk with Jesus, mas daghan gyud kuno to ikumpara sa miaging tuig, (I expect more devotees this year because of the information dissemination. Even the “Walk with Jesus†was noticeably attended by more devotees compared to the previous year),†said Mejares.
The Penitential Walk with Mary is held in the dawn of the ninth day of the Novena for Señor Sto. Niño.
The Augustinians and devotees join parish priests and Marian devotees from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in honoring of the Blessed Mother of the Holy Child Jesus, who played a very important role in the history of salvation and who is viewed as an excellent example of humility, sacrifice and love for all mankind.
During the candle-lit penitential procession, aside from the Carroza of Our Lady of Guadalupe, images of the Blessed Mother are brought along by most devotees, especially the Guadalupe parishioners, who start their procession from the parish grounds.
From the shrine, they will go straight to V. Rama Avenue then to B. Rodriguez Street at about 3:30 am just in time to reach Fuente Osmeña at 4:30 am where the Augustinians and the rest of the devotees are waiting.
The Holy Rosary is prayed with hymns sung in between the mysteries and is aired over the radio for the sick and those who could not join the procession.
The ninth day 5:30 a.m. Novena Mass is presided by Guadalupe parish priest, Msgr. Jose Montecillo.
The 7:00 a.m. Novena Mass today will also be the Misa de Traslacion which Rev. Fr. Roman C. Cañon, OSA, shall be presiding.
It will be followed immediately by the Traslacion Motorcade bearing the images of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe from the Basilica del Sto. Niño to the St. Joseph Shrine in Mandaue City for an overnight vigil.
This year, the Cebu City route of the motorcade is from the Basilica and will turn left to MJ Cuenco Avenue towards the boundary of the cities of Cebu and Mandaue which is in barangay Mabolo.
From the Mabolo boundary, the Traslacion Motorcade will proceed to the St. Joseph Shrine where the icons are warmly welcomed by the Mandauehanons with shouts of petitions and pealing of church bells for the Traslacion Mass which will be presided by St. Joseph Shrine parish priest, Msgr. Adel Abella.
At 4:00 am tomorrow, there will be an early dawn Holy Mass at the St. Joseph’s Shrine and will be followed by a foot procession of the image from the shrine going to the Ouano Wharf where the images are placed on the galleon together with the official participants of the reenactment in preparation for the 6 am fluvial parade going to Pier Uno.
A foot procession immediately follows from Pier Uno to the Basilica Pilgrim Center for the Re-enactment of Cebu’s First Mass and Baptism.
In the afternoon, the Solemn Procession of the image will start at 1:30 pm and is expected to finish at 6:00 pm, which will be followed by the Pontifical Mass to be presided by Bishop John Du of Palo, Leyte. The liturgical celebration ends with the traditional religious Sinulog. (FREEMAN)