Sto. Niño image to visit PH parishes 

The holy image of Sr. Sto. Niño de Cebu would visit different parishes in the Philippines and abroad during the celebration of the 459th Fiesta Señor in January of 2024, an Augustinian priest said in a report by Philippine News Agency.

In a press conference, Fr. John Ion Miranda, media liaison officer at the Basilica del Sto. Niño de Cebu, said the visitation of the miraculous image of the Holy Child Jesus to different facilities and places after the fiesta is one of the highlights of next year’s celebration.

Miranda said, before the start of the novena masses and as part of their preparations, the image will visit hospitals and jails in Metro Cebu.

“After the celebration of the Fiesta Señor, there will be visitations to some parishes in the Archdiocese of Cebu and other Dioceses in the country and abroad,” Miranda told reporters.

He did not give further details on the visit abroad.

Meanwhile, Miranda announced that the two big solemn processions, the penitential walk with Jesus on the opening salvo and the penitential walk with Mary on a Friday before the fiesta will follow a different route due to some development on Osmeña Boulevard brought by the Bus Rapid Transit project.

The Walk with Jesus on Jan. 11, 2024, would be a 2.4-kilometer foot procession starting at Fuente Osmeña going to the Basilica, following a detour to F. Ramos, Junquera St., Colon St., Osmeña Boulevard.

The Walk with Mary, meanwhile, is a 5.7-kilometer procession that would begin at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish shrine going to the Basilica on January 19, 2024.

The city police, represented by Cebu City Police Office spokesperson Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, assured a peaceful and orderly fiesta celebration next year.

Miranda, however, said the Augustinian Friars would start to put in place security measures even this early as part of the preparation.

“As we celebrate the Fiesta Señor, we appeal to the devotees to adhere to all protocols that are being implemented for safe, orderly, and solemn conduct of our religious celebration,” Miranda added.