Jan 9 2022

Fiesta Celebration in Dansolihon

January 9 is the Feast of the Black Nazarene, one of the most popular religious celebrations across the Philippine archipelago. On this day thousands of people join the celebrations in Quiapo in Manila and in Cagayan de Oro City, where the replica of the original statue is.

As in the last year, due to the pandemic COVID-19, also this year the activities and celebrations of this feast were very much reduced. The famous procession called Traslacion was either called off or simplified. In Cagayan de Oro for example, instead of a procession, the image of the Black Nazarene was brought out of the Nazareno Church and was paraded through a motorcade around the city to prevent people from crowding the streets and thus spreading the virus. The religious activity started on January 9, 2022, at 3 am when most people were still asleep. Continue reading →

Jan 8 2021

Dedication of the New Church in Dansolihon

On January 8, 2021, a day before the Feast of the Patron, Jesus Nazareno, the Dansolihon Chaplaincy celebrated the Dedication of the New Church. The concelebrated Mass of Dedication was presided by Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, Most. Rev. José A. Cabantan, DD, together with Archbishop Emeritus, Most. Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD., SCJ priests from the area of Cagayan de Oro and three diocesan priests: two from Cagayan de Oro and one from the Diocese of Pagadian. Continue reading →

Jan 9 2020

Fiesta Celebration in Dansolihon

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.

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. Continue reading →

May 19 2019

Thanksgiving Masses of Newly Ordained SCJ Priests

60532746_2465480816804448_5362695341151879168_n

On May 19, 2019, the two newly ordained priests were saying their “Thanksgiving Masses”, Fr. Joel J. Bolo, SCJ in Dansolihon and Fr. Ruel C. Paalisbo, SCJ in Bacolod (Lanao del Norte).

The celebration in Dansolihon started at 8:00 AM and was attended by some SCJ priests from the formation community in Cagayan de Oro and parishioners from the Jesus Nazareno Chaplaincy. The homily was delivered by Fr. John Karl Cabaluna, SCJ, the parish priest of Kumalarang, who once was in charge of the chaplaincy.

After the Mass, Fr. Joel gave his individual blessing to all who approached him and kissed his hands. The practice of kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest is a long-established custom in some countries. During ordination a new priest’s hands are anointed with chrism as a sign of consecration and of the change that has been effected in his soul. The custom of kissing his hands stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the particular importance of the sign of the hands in priestly ministry. After ordination the priest uses his hands to hold the Eucharistic species during the consecration, to make the sign of the cross while absolving sins, to anoint the sick and dying, and on occasion to impart the sacrament of confirmation.

The celebration ended at the table which is a very essential element in the Philippine culture.