Menu

FIRST DEVOTEE OF JESUS OF NAZARENE: QUIAPO CHURCH CELEBRATES THE NATIVITY OF ITS PATRON, SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Nov. 30, 2024 05:55 PM

His Eminence, Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr. of the Archdiocese of Manila, presided the 12:15 noon solemn mass celebrating the nativity of St. John the Baptist, the cousin and precursor of Jesus and the patron of Quiapo Church this June 24, 2024. Together are the priest concelebrants with Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., rector and parish priest along with other invited priests within the Archdiocese of Manila.

Cardinal Advincula Jr. encouraged the devotees to “follow the footsteps of John the Baptist” in his homily. With the theme, “Sama-samang naglalakbay sa patnubay ni San Juan Bautista”, he gave three key points about John the Baptist in part of the “essence of synodality”:

The first point is St. John the Baptist has a “strong connection with Jesus”. Cardinal Advincula Jr. described Jon the Baptist as the “first devotee of Jesus of Nazareth” and stated that “this should be the kind of life a devotee of Jesus the Nazarene should lead” in preparing the way of the Lord.

The second point is that St. John the Baptist was the “first who witnessed the Traslacion of the beloved Jesus, the Nazarene”, who had moved with joy upon seeing Jesus in the womb. Cardinal Advincula Jr. invites the devotees to “become glad in the presence of the Lord” and “witness and experience in Jesus the true meaning of gladness and peace in life”.

The third point is that John the Baptist was the “first who carried the cross of Jesus, the Nazarene. As he had stood up for the truth and did not think twice about giving up his own life in following the will of the Lord, Cardinal Advincula Jr. challenged the devotees to “never be afraid (in taking up) of the cross” and “be willing to turn back all for the great love to Jesus, the Nazarene”.

At the last part of the mass, Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. shared his vision of ‘restoring the original devotion to the Black Nazarene’. With the return of the original image of St. John the Baptist at Quiapo church a year ago, the essence of this event is to embed the symbolism between John the Baptist and Jesus such as the former must decrease and Jesus must increase. He also took the time to acknowledge the third-year anniversary, when Cardinal Advincula Jr. was installed as archbishop of Manila.

One of the highlights of the mass is the inauguration of the newly-renovated baptistery, where the original image of John the Baptist is currently enshrined. Also, the adoration chapel, where there was a procession of lodging the Blessed Sacrament led by Cardinal Advincula Jr.

This Solemnity of the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist made it historical with the commemoration of the 436 years of establishment of Quiapo parish church and 453 years when the city of Manila was first established. At 3:00 P.M., the colorful sights of ‘karakol’ swayed around the designated routes followed by a solemn procession at 4:00 P.M.

At 7:00 P.M., a fellowship night was held at the Plaza San Juan, where the community of Quiapo church gathered to culminate this festivity. Ms. Jenalyn Mae Callao, champion of ‘The Juan Got Talent’, one of the activities of fiesta of St. John the Baptist, entertained the audience with her another winning performance. The program closed with fireworks display to the song of “Wattah! Wattah!”.

Viva San Juan Bautsita! Viva San Juan Bautista de Kiyapo! Pray for us, that we may prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord.

– Kidanzac A. Tallada | Shrine & Pilgrims’ Ministry (Evangelization Cluster)