Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission/ Vision
    • Parish History
    • Black Nazarene Image
    • Parish Priests
    • Parish Clergy
    • Live Stream
    • FAQ
    • Vicariate of San Jose de Trozo
  • Parish
    • Sacraments
    • Pastoral Board
    • Pastoral Team
    • Pastoral Council
    • Ministries & Organizations
    • BEC
    • Offices & Staff
    • Merciful Brothers of St. Joseph
    • Nazarene Catholic School
    • LBN Foundation
    • Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus
  • Devotion
    • Hesus Nazareno
    • The Novena
    • Friday Devotion
    • Nazareno Pilgrimages
    • Hijos del Nazareno
    • Holy Week in Quiapo
    • Traslacion
    • NPJN Novena
  • Parish News
  • Featured Articles

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Parish of Saint John the Baptist • Quiapo • Manila

Donate

The Good Friday: The Cross and the Transforming Power of the Love of Jesus

Apr. 15, 2023 01:49 PM

The crucified Christ at the altar of Quiapo Church this Good Friday 2023 (Photo by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

On the second day of the Easter Triduum, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at exactly 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023, the Quiapo Church observed the rites of Veneration of the Cross, presided over by Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon, Jr., Rector, and Parish Priest, with his fellow priests in the parish, Rev. Fr. Jonathan Noel Mojica, Rev. Fr. Hans Magdurulang, Rev. Fr. Robert Arellano, LRMS, and Rev. Fr. Paul Edison Medina, OCarm. 



The Quiapo Church clergy and other priest concelebrants kneeling before the bare altar and in front of the red-veiled cross (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

During this occasion, many people wonder why this particular celebration is called “Good Friday” by the Catholic Church, wherein this could be the worst event that had ever happened to Jesus Christ, to be humiliated, mocked, and crucified on the cross like a criminal. 

However, Fr. Sescon, Jr. enlightened the faithful in his sermon by saying: 



Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr. Rector & Parish Priest, delivers his homily and leads the Veneration of the Cross (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

“Binaliktad ni Hesus sa krus ang lahat. Pinapanibago ni Hesus Nazareno ang lahat. Kaya kung wala daw si Hesus Nazareno sa krus, hindi magbabago ang krus. Lahat tayo dito ay may krus, pero ang tanong nandoon din ba si Hesus Nazareno sa krus ng ating buhay? Dahil kung wala si Hesus Nazareno, mananatiling pangit, karumaldumal at masama ang krus.” (Christ reversed everything through the cross. Christ transformed everything. Hence, without Christ on the cross, the cross will not change. All of us here do have our own crosses, but the question is, does Jesus the Nazarene present on the cross of our lives? Because without Jesus the Nazarene the cross will remain ugly, gruesome and bad.”)



One by one, devotees and parishioners line up to touch and venerate the Cross (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Thus, the celebration of Good Friday is seeing more of the good things out of the worst day that ever happened in humankind’s history- the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus had indeed turned His crucifixion to be good, just like when the world was created by God, where He sees everything is good. However, the problem is when the faithful become too familiar with their own crosses, literally or figuratively. 


Community of faithful reciting the Lord’s prayer, Our Father, during the Holy Communion part of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Further, Fr. Sescon, Jr. said that as the faithful kiss and venerate the cross and the image of Jesus the Nazarene himself, they should also ask for that special grace for conversion, to experience “metanoia” or the transformative change of heart. It is indeed Jesus’ power to change everything for good. Hence, the cross became the symbol of a new beginning.            



Lay Ministers carry the image of the dead Christ for the traditional Santo Entierro procession with people participating outside the church (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

After the rites of Veneration of the Cross, the procession of the traditional Santo Entierro around the communities of the parish of Quiapo Church followed, where approximately five hundred parishioners and devotees joined the said procession. The celebration lasted almost three and a half hours, beginning at 3 pm and ending at 6:22 pm.

– Alfrein O. Quirionez | EIAM & ADRM

  • 340005512_1367872824038446_1440654586017396681_n (1)

  • 340223413_253718560424541_51011615552309896_n

  • 340208602_741801807607537_4426790864426741115_n

  • 340127291_191327360335931_8624569691280296896_n

  • 340118097_3090384091262225_3611216139603375944_n

  • 340124566_3060288867612635_7538320744354803468_n

  • 340212814_242173821552636_3260231944902515813_n

  • 340131593_229790429578418_6642996467724169691_n

  • 340244103_768937874543914_1488800053330966620_n

 

Mater Dolorosa and St. John the Apostle joining the procession of the dead Christ (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

 

Recent Parish News

  • The “Choose-Day With Vendors”: Reaching Out To The Closest Yet Marginalized Brethren
  • The Call To See The Real Beauty In Santacruzan: The Passion For Serving More Than The Fashion To Be Seen
  • The Declaration of the Archdiocesan Shrine Of The Black Nazarene: The Home of Devotion that calls for a Mission
  • The Companionship of the Quiapo Church and the Sacred Heart Of Jesus Parish: Taking the Road Together Toward the Mission of Interreligious Dialogue
  • Penance, Healing & New Life: Gifts Of Encounter With Our Lady Of Lourdes In Quiapo Church
  • Giving the Gift of Life & Motherly Empowerment for the Senior Community of Quiapo Church
  • From Traslacion to Ahunan: Pilgrim’s Movement For Peace With Jesus Of Nazareth & Mother Mary
  • Silsilah Annual Gathering 2023: The Signs Of The Time To Dialogue With Creation
  • From Hala Bira Pwera Pasma! to Viva Poong Jesus Nazareno!
  • Summer Community Outing 2023: The Gift of Life and Community in Christ

Quiapo Church

910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila 1001
(02) 8733-4945
(02) 8735-8614
roffice_mbbn@yahoo.com
For donations

LBN Foundation

910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila 1001
(02) 8733-4945 loc 328
(02) 8522-0393
lbnfoundation@yahoo.com.ph
For donations
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
Website managed by LBN Foundation © 2017.