MANILA, Philippines — The theme of this year’s Traslacion focuses on the mission and service of devotees, a church official said Thursday.
Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong said the theme will try to enlighten devotees on their mission and on their responsibility as followers of Jesus Christ.
“Sa taong 2019, ang focus po ng tema ay nakatuon sa mga deboto,” Badong said in a press briefing.
“Susubukan natin sa mga pagninilay, mga katekismo, at maging mismong Misa sa araw ng vigil, na maipaliwang at maipaunawa sa mga deboto kung bakit sila deboto, kung bakit sila naririto, at bakit patuloy pa rin silang nananampalataya,” he added.
Badong said that this year’s Traslacion theme: “Deboto ng Poong Hesus Nazareno: Hinirang at Pinili Upang Maging Lingkod” zeroes in on how being a devotee is a calling from Jesus Christ.
“Ito po ay pagtawag sa kanila ng Poong Hesus Nazareno, hindi para makilala, hindi para sumikat, hindi para magpagalingan, kundi maging lingkod lang,” the church official said.
“Sila (devotees) ay hindi lang para magdebosoyon, hindi lang para magprusisyon kundi para maglingkod dahil yun ang tawag ng Diyos,” he added.
Badong adds that the theme emphasizes that devotees are chosen by God himself to serve Him therefore being a devotee is both a mission and a responsibility.
“Ang paghirang at pagpili ay may kaakibat na responsibilidad at misyon. Ang paghirang at pagpili ay nasa Diyos, ang pagtugon ay nasa deboto ng Nazareno,” Badong said.
Badong noted that the logo of this year’s Translacion is patterned after the logo of the priests, whose servitude to God was derived from how Christ served God and it is now being taught to devotees.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated annually on January 9. /muf