Due to ongoing repair works at Muelle Osmeña, the fluvial procession of the Sto. Niño will start at the Captain Veloso Pier, located within the vicinity of the Philippine Navy, in Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City at 6 a.m. on January 20, 2018.
Among those allowed to board the galleon of the Child Jesus are Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, priests, the present and past Hermano and Hermana Mayores, and those who have roles to play in the reenactment of the first Mass, baptism, and wedding.
“I encourage the people to join us in praying the rosary and the novena to the Sto. Niño during the fluvial procession at the Mactan Channel,” said Fr. Noel Cogasa, OSA, who is in charge of the liturgical celebrations in the basilica, in a press conference at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño’s convent sala on Thursday.
“We discourage participating boats and ships from holding Eucharistic celebrations,” he added.
For the first time in history, the images of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe will drop by the Nuestra Señora de Regla National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City shortly before the start of the fluvial procession on January 20, 2018.
The Augustinian fathers of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño have decided to extend the annual traslacion from Mandaue City to the adjacent island of Mactan, particularly in Lapu-Lapu City, in respond to numerous requests from Oponganons who want to be visited by the images during the festivities.
As in previous years, the traslacion or ritual transfer of the images of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe will start after the 5:30 a.m. Mass on January 19, Friday, from the basilica to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City
The motorcade will go down D. Jakosalem Street, turn right to General Maxilom Avenue, left to Gorordo Avenue, right to Archbishop Reyes Avenue, straight to Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, and right again to A.S. Fortuna Street.
Mandauehanons will welcome the images at the boundary of the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in Banilad.
The motorcade will pass A. del Rosario St, and S.B. Cabahug Street before reaching the shrine in Mandaue City where the two images will stay for an overnight vigil.
At 2 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, a send off Mass will be celebrated at the National Shrine of St. Joseph. But unlike previous years, there will be no more foot procession that will bring the images of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Ouano Wharf.
Instead, the images will be transported in a motorcade to the Nuestra Señora de Regla National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City for the 4 a.m. Mass.
Afterwhich, the images will be brought in a motorcade to the Captain Veloso Pier in Barangay Looc for the start of the fluvial procession along the Mactan Channel.