All systems go for 37th Nazareno feast in Naga

By JASON B. NEOLA

THE Archdiocese of Caceres, through the Holy Cross Parish and the Hijos de Nazareno Bicol Unit, has declared “all systems go” for the 37th Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Pilgrim City of Naga, with at least 100,000 devotees, pilgrims, and guests expected to join all the major religious activities.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is considered the second-largest religious event in Naga City, drawing overwhelming participation from devotees within the province of Camarines Sur and neighboring provinces, next to the annual Peñafrancia Festival celebrated every September.

Like the Peñafrancia devotion, the Black Nazarene feast transforms the city into a major pilgrimage site, marked by massive crowds, penitential processions, and heightened security and safety preparations by both Church and city authorities.

The annual devotion will officially begin on December 31, 2025, highlighted by the traditional Pagsundo, when the revered image of the Black Nazarene will be transported from the private chapel of the Redondo family in Barangay Palsong, Bula to the Holy Cross Parish in Barangay Tabuco.

The image is expected to arrive at Holy Cross Parish at 11 a.m., where Pagtanggap (welcome rites) will be conducted, followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Novena, and the singing of Perdon at 3 p.m. The opening day will culminate in the Misa Novenario in honor of Amang Nazareno at 5:30 p.m.

From January 1 to 7, 2026, daily devotional activities—including the Holy Rosary, Novena, and Perdon—will continue at 3 p.m., followed by the Misa Novenario. A formation seminar for Hijos de Nazareno members is scheduled on January 6 and 7.

On January 8, devotional rites will resume from 5:30 p.m. onward, with the Traslacion of the smaller replica of the Black Nazarene and the traditional Pagbulos ki Amang Nazareno at 7 p.m.

The feast day on January 9 will feature Holy Masses at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 noon, and 3 p.m. A Pontifical Mass will be celebrated outside Holy Cross Parish at 5 p.m., followed by the grand penitential procession at 6:30 p.m., tracing the same route observed in previous years.

A major highlight of the procession is the Pagdungaw at the San Francisco Church, where the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be shown at the church window to greet the passing image of Jesus amid thousands of devotees. The procession will then return to Holy Cross Parish for the sixth Mass.

Given the large crowd turnout, extended procession routes, multiple religious activities spanning several days, and the penitential nature of the event, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will activate its Incident Management Team (IMT) to ensure unified command, coordination, and rapid response to any emergencies.

Raynor Rodriguez, head of CDRRMO, said the activation of the IMT is intended to manage crowd safety, prevent and respond to medical emergencies, ensure quick reaction to possible fire, weather-related, or structural incidents, and maintain coordination among response units, particularly during peak activities such as the penitential procession.

The deployment of DRRM and IMT personnel will complement the security and traffic management roles of the Naga City Police Office and the Public Safety Office, which will provide police visibility, crowd control, traffic rerouting, and law enforcement support throughout the duration of the feast.

The religious celebration will conclude on January 10, 2026, with a regular Mass and the return of the image to Barangay Palsong in Bula, joined by members of the Hijos de Nazareno.

Church and city officials urged devotees to observe discipline, follow safety protocols, and cooperate with authorities to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and prayerful observance of one of Naga’s biggest religious gatherings.