Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the most popular religious celebrations in the Philippines. Every year on January 9, thousands of people join the celebrations in Quiapo in Manila and in Cagayan de Oro City, where the replica of the original statue is.

The Black Nazarene represents Christ’s passion and suffering, and through the centuries it has become the Filipino people’s symbol of struggle and faith. Devotees have experienced numerous instances of answered prayers and miracles, making the devotion to the Black Nazarene one of the strongest spiritual and religious phenomena in the country.

It is said that the Black Nazarene was carved by an unknown Mexican sculptor from a dark wood in the 16th century in Mexico and then transported via galleon from Acapulco, Mexico to the Philippines on May 31, 1606. According to some stories, a fire that broke out inside the ship reached the statue and blackened even more the image.

It was brought by a group of Augustinian Recollect missionaries who brought it to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan (Saint John the Baptist Church at Luneta). After a couple of years, the Black Nazarene was moved to a bigger church near the area.

On January 9, 1767, the image of the Black Nazarene was transferred (Traslacion) to Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) whose patron is also John the Baptist. Since that time, the annual feast day has been celebrated by millions of devotees thronging to touch the icon and lasting for around 20 hours.

Black Nazarene is also the patron saint of the Chaplaincy in Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, administered by the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJ). The feast, which also is celebrated on January 9, was preceded with 9-day novena as a spiritual preparation for the celebration. Each day, there was a special Novena Mass, and procession with the little statue of Black Nazarene around the barangay of Dansolihon.

This year the main celebrant was the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD. The Archbishop was accompanied by the SCJ priests from the Sacred Heart Formation House and Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City.

The celebration was attended by faithful from all the chapels of the chaplaincy and was concluded with a common meal.