The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño will be open 24 hours a day to welcome pilgrims starting tomorrow until the feast day on Jan. 19.
To cope with a large crowd of devotees coming for novena masses, “carousel” stations will be set up.
This way church goers who want to enter to receive Holy Communion or drop donations can approach two stations inside the complex and five stations outside, said Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA basilica rector, in a press conference.
Against the backdrop of a disfigured bell tower, outdoor Masses will be held at the Pilgrim Center for the Fiesta Señor whose theme this year is “Sto. Niño: Hope of the People.”
Mejares said the new arrangement was a way to control the number of people who enter the church grounds especially that the 18th century basilica itself remains closed to the public due to repairs caused by the earthquake last Oct. 15.
“In previous years, some people were not able to receive Holy Communion due to the large congregation who attend the Masses. Now, we’re bringing the consecrated hosts to the carousel stations so the faithful don’t have to go inside the church grounds. They may also drop their donations at the carousel stations,” he said.
Lay ministers will distribute communion wafers during Mass at two stations inside the basilica complex and at least five stations outside.
Instead of ten daily novena masses, a 4 a.m. Mass was added making it eleven masses everyday leading to the feast day of the Sto. Nino on Jan. 19.
The Fiesta Senor 2014 officially starts tomorrow with the annual “Walk with Jesus”, a religious foot procession from Fuente Osmeña to the basilica at 4:30 am.
(On that day, no 4 a.m. Mass will be held, said Fr. Mejares.)
As in previous years, balloons are not allowed inside the basilica complex to avoid accidental power trips offs. In previous years, stray balloons caused explosions of electric transformers.
“If 2013 is a year filled with trials, 2014 must be a year of hope. And we know that our hope is in the Sto. Niño. In Him alone we put our hope. In Him alone can we find strength after the challenges we encountered,” said Fr. Mejares in a press conference.