THE Catholic Church said Wednesday it is hopeful that Filipinos will be bold enough in 2018 to do what is morally right.
“We pray and work for a Philippines prosperous in human and spiritual values, committed to eradicate poverty and corruption, dedicated in upholding human rights and the sacredness of life, unflinching in its fights against illegal drugs and human trafficking, enlightened to choose worthy leaders, and a Philippines proud of its heritage, yet open to the family of nations,” Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace said.
He said that alhough 2017 was full of challenges that almost divided the nation, there were many things for which to be thankful.
The archbishops statement came as the Catholic Church began preparations for the arrival of millions of pilgrims to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“An overnight vigil will be held at the Luneta evening of Jan. 8. A Holy Mass will be celebrated for the public morning of Jan. 9 followed by the procession of the image back to the basilica,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said in a statement.
The CBCP said the procession, or “Traslacion,” is a reenactment of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo, both in Manila, in 1787.
Quiapo Church rector and parish priest Msgr. Hernando Coronel reminded the faithful with health conditions to stay home instead of joining the procession as it will be shown live on television and on the Internet.
The prelate also discouraged parents from bringing their children because they might get lost.
He urged children and teenagers not to climb on the Anadas, especially since a number of girls were recorded as suffering difficulty breathing during the thanksgiving procession held by Quiapo Church on Dec. 31.
Coronel also asked devotees to report anything suspicious persons to the police.
About 18.9 million devotees are expected to participate in the 10-day series of activities in observance of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene this year in Manila, the Manila Police District said on Tuesday.
MPD Supt. Lucille Faycho said last year’s crowd of around 18 million is projected to increase by 5 percent this year.
The activities related to the feast started on Dec. 31, 2017 and will last until Jan. 9, 2018, ending with the procession for the Quiapo Church’s Black Nazarene or Traslacion.
Faycho said that while the MPD is on alert, they have not monitored any specific threat to the feast.
The crowd count started on Dec. 31’s thanksgiving procession, which kicked off Traslacion 2018’s activities.
The thanksgiving procession was immediately followed by nine-day novena Masses for the Black Nazarene, which will last until 5:45 p.m. of Jan. 8.
A procession of all replicas of the Black Nazarene from various parts of the country will take place on Jan. 7.
The Traslacion will start at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Coronel said about 40 minor injuries were recorded during the thanksgiving procession.
Fr. Douglas Badong said an estimated 2 million devotees are expected to join the Traslacion, which will start from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and end in Quiapo Church.
Badong said the duration of the procession should not be a problem. He said they are most concerned about the safety of the devotees.
The Metro Manila Development Authority said it will deploy a total 1,300 of its personnel beginning Friday this week in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the agency personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and along the procession routes to help in traffic management, public safety, and emergency response operations of the Manila city government and other concerned agencies.
The agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.
MPD and church officials on Wednesday inspected the route that devotees would take.
A total of 5,700 police personnel will be deployed to provide security for the Black Nazarene Feast.