Nazareno feast in the eyes of 2 high schoolers: ‘Christ is always here’

Grade 12 students John Emmanuel Monte, 17, and Jelaine Kyla Flores, 18, visit replica images of Jesus Nazareno at the Quiapo Church in Manila on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 8, 2024, as part of their religious devotion. (Photo by JASON SIGALES / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The image of Jesus Nazareno left the Quirino Grandstand at 4:41 a.m. on Thursday, beginning its 5.8-kilometer journey back to Quiapo Church.

The procession is plying Ayala Bridge as of this writing.

While devotees currently flock to the streets of Manila for a chance to see or touch the image that reportedly has miraculous powers, these two high school students believe that Christ can be found wherever the Holy Eucharist is celebrated.

Grade 12 students John Emmanuel Monte, 17, and Jelaine Kyla Flores, 18, just finished their classes for the day at the Espiritu Santo Parochial School in Tayuman, about 2 kilometers away from Quiapo Church.

They passed by the church on Wednesday afternoon to touch a replica image of Jesus Nazareno.

“Kahit sabihin naman natin na may Traslación, may prusisyon, kahit ‘di ka naman pumunta sa (Quirino) Grandstand, nandito naman ang Poon sa mismong tahanan nya,” Monte told INQUIRER.net.

(Even though we say there’s a Traslación, there’s a procession; even if you don’t go to the (Quirino) Grandstand, the Lord is always here in his very home.)

“Dapat talaga kasi, yung pagde-debosyon natin talaga, nauuwi talaga palagi sa pagdedebosyon sa Banal na Eukaristiya,” Monte said.

(Our devotion should always be rooted in a devotion to the Holy Eucharist.)

“Nandoon talaga yung mismong presensya ni Kristo talaga – sa banal na misa. Kaya kami nagsisimba because we thank the Lord,” he explained.

(That’s where Christ’s presence is – in the Holy Mass. That’s why we go to mass because we thank the Lord.)

This year’s Feast of Jesus Nazareno is the first celebration as a “national feast,” meaning it will be celebrated in all dioceses across the country.

READ: Nazareno 2025 to be celebrated nationwide in ‘historic’ first

Flores’ early devotion to Jesus Nazareno was passed on to her by many persons, especially her mother, who was born and raised in the nearby Tondo district of Manila.

“When I was a kid, kasi, naging panata na namin dito sa Black Nazarene. Na-adopt ko na rin sa pamilya ko, lalo na sa mga parents ko, so naging deboto na rin ako ng Nazareno,” she told INQUIRER.net.

(When I was a kid, we had a vow with the Black Nazarene. I adopted this from my family, especially from my parents, so I also became a devotee of the Nazareno.)

Monte, on the other hand, has frequented Quiapo Church ever since.

He is a member of the Hijos del Nazareno, the brotherhood tasked with protecting the Holy Image of Jesus Nazareno.

When asked about their devotions, he replied, “Mga kahilingan sa buhay, good health sa pamilya ko.”

(Wishes in life, and good health for my family.)

For her part, Flores remarked, “Ang pinagdadasal ko palagi sa mahal na Señor na lahat ng mga deboto Nya ay maging maayos din ang kalusugan, magkaroon ng mahabang buhay, masayang pamilya at saka mabubuting kaibigan, at para magkaayos yung family ko at yung ministry na ginagabayan ko.”

(What I always pray to the beloved Señor that all of His devotees will have good health, long lives, happy families, and good friends. I also pray that my family will be well with the ministry that I guide.)

Flores added that since they would soon graduate from senior high school, part of their prayers was to pass their college entrance exams.

She plans to take up either Psychology or Journalism at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Monte is hoping to major in Philosophy at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines before entering the seminary to become a priest.

READ: Nazarene feast: What devotees need to know for Traslacion 2025

The Fiesta Masses for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno began at the Quiapo Church at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and will run hourly until 11 p.m. on Thursday.