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JESUS NAZARENO CALLS US TO BE SANGKAY

Aug. 18, 2026 12:05 PM

This year’s Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization (PCNE), held on July 24–26 at the University of Santo Tomas, centered on the theme “SANGKÁY: I Have Called You Friends” (John 15:15). Sangkay, a Waray word meaning friend or companion, invites the faithful to reflect on the kind of relationship Christ desires with us.

This concept holds a special place in the heart of every devotee of Jesus Nazareno. He invites us to become His Sangkay, faithful companions who share in His mission, remain steadfast in His love, and obey His commandment to love one another. In becoming Christ’s Sangkay, we are also called to become sangkay to one another; to recognize His presence in every person, to accompany one another in faith, and to bear each other’s burdens with compassion. He invites us to genuine connection, one that leads us to conversion and reconciliation towards the fullness of life in Christ, who restores our magnificent humanity.

Jesus Nazareno calls us to remain with Him, to keep His commandments, and to abide in His love. Just as He has kept His Father’s commandments and remains in His Father’s love, so too are we invited to remain in Him. To remain is to be in love, and loving is active. Jesus, our suffering friend, emptied Himself and offered His own life for the sake of our salvation. We did not deserve His sacrifice, yet He freely offered Himself to us. He invites everyone to be His sangkay, a friend whom He is willing to lay down His life for. And He calls us to do the same. To lay down our lives for each other, to be a community of friends and family, and to see the true value of one another without prejudice. This is where we reach communitas, the state where there is equality and connection. A community that strives to be in communion with God.

One way to manifest this communitas, apart from our day-to-day lives, is through our communal piety. The widespread devotion to Jesus Nazareno gives us a great opportunity to connect with one another. According to Him, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). We gather to honor and glorify Jesus through the image of Nazareno, where we become one in prayer and recognize His actions in our communal lives. We turn from estranghero to kapatid, from dayuhan to sangkay, from di-kilala to kaibigan. The synthesis of our aspirations, sentiments, and hopes that centers on our faith, manifested by our common patrimony, shapes our hearts and becomes part of our collective consciousness. United in Jesus Christ, who bore the Cross for each and every one of us, we then extend this love to our neighbors, guided by our faith and our answer to the Great Commission, to share the Good News with people.

Thus, we proclaim the Most Holy Name of Jesus Nazareno, our dearest Sangkay.

Viva Jesus Nazareno!

 

 

Photo Credit: Mj Sernio

 

-Tyrone Dane M. Dungca | Quiapo Article Writer | Pilgrims Ministry | HDN Basilica