Roman Catholics will celebrate today the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the Child Jesus, whose image adorns many homes around the country.
The traditional festive rites, elaborate processions, street dancing, and grand parades will not be held this year because of the pandemic. Many parishes will, instead, celebrate solemn holy masses with limited church attendance to observe physical distancing. The masses will also be streamed live. Some will be holding a motorcade of the revered image.
In Metro Manila, the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sto. Nino in Tondo, Manila will celebrate nine feast masses from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Sto. Niño de Pandacan, also in Manila, which was unfortunately gutted by fire last July 10, will likewise celebrate fiesta masses at the churchyard (patio) as the church is currently being demolished. Ten holy masses will be offered from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Novena masses were held from Jan. 8 to 16.
At the Basilica Minore de Sto. Niño in Cebu City, all public activities had been cancelled. The faithful are discouraged from going to the basilica and are instead advised to join the holy masses which will be streamed live through the Facebook page and YouTube channel of the minor basilica.
Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos said the faithful’s devotion to the Santo Niño must inspire him to be a missionary.
“Our devotion to the Child Jesus should make us share Him with others and bring other people to Him, especially our family and close friends. Our love for the Child Jesus should inspire us to be missionaries, to spread His Word and, more than that, to live it. A missionary faith makes us available to go for Christ, to work for Christ and to win others for Him, whenever and whatever,” Santos said. (Christina Hermoso)
