Thousands of devotees join Walk with Jesus

A wet, chilly dawn didn’t stop thousands of people from joing the annual “Walk with Jesus” that opened the religious feast of the Sto. Niñi de Cebu.

People from all walks of life joined the procession, including aheart attack survivor, a polio victim on a wheelchair, and a married couple from southwestern Cebu pushing their toddlers on strollers.

Neil Cañete, 50, had his right arm in a sling and walked with a cane.

“I decided to join so the Sto. Niño would take pity on me and revive my strength,” he said in Cebuano.

The barangay Ermita resident survived a heart attack six months ago.

He said he used to abuse drugs but has changed his ways witht the help of devotion to the Sto. Niño.

The prayer walk started at 4:40 a.m. from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in downtown Cebu City.

POLIO VICTIM

Elsa Lucino, 57, a polio victim, showed up in a wheelchair, aided by his 11-year-old grandson Jasper.

Elsa said this was her yearly promise to the Sto. Nino and that she prayed for good health and safety for her family.

Arnel Sanchez of CTU-Argao Campus, joined the walk together with his wife Flordelyn and three children aged 6, 3, and 1.

They came from Pinamungajan town in southwestern Cebu. The couple pushed their two toddlers in a stroller.

Sanchez, a devotee of the Sto Nino for 10 years, said he prayed for good health for his family.

So did Emily Curiba from barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City who joined the procession with her two-year-old son, Curt.

CROWD

Over 100,000 joined the procession this year, said Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office.

People young and old carried lighted candles, rosaries, and images of the Sto. Niño and the Blessed Virgin Mary as they alked behind the carroza of the Holy Child.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who joins the walk every year, was with the Augustinian priests accompanying the carroza of the Sto. Niño.

“I think the number of devotees this year doubled from last year,” said the mayor.

The mysteries of the rosary and hymns to the Child Jesus were aired live over radio radio dyLA on loud speakers.

Devotees walked amid a short drizzl. Bells pealed as the flower-decked carroza that carried the image of the Sto. Niño arrived at the basilica at 5:35 a.m.

Cheers of “Pit Señor” also filled the basilica.

UMBRELLAS

Around 3,000 red and yellow umbrellas owned by the basilica were also lent to the people who braved the rain duirng the liturgical celebration. The umbrellas have to returned to boxes placed at the Pilgrim Center.

The first novena Mass began with Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, the rector of the centuries-old Church, as the presider and homilist.

In his homily, Mejares urged the faithful to unite and be joyful in manifesting the Catholic faith

“Diha sa dakong pagtuo ni Sto. Niño, magmalipayon ka.” (with a strong faith in the Holy Child, be joyful.).

HERMANO

During the Mass, spouses Maximiano and Corazon Fulache were installed as hermano and hermana mayores for 2013.

At least 10 Masses a day are being celebrated in the basilica in Cebuano and English at 5:30 am, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 1:00 pm, 2:30, 4:00, 5:30, and 7:00.

Two men dressed as Spanish soldiers guard the original image of the Sto. Niño which is enshrined in a side chapel.

For the first time, the basilica will be kept open 24 hours a day till the feast day to allow devotees to visit the image.