CEBU CITY – The sacred image of Señor Sto. Niño embarked on its pre-fiesta journey on Thursday, leaving the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu to visit hospitals and jails in anticipation of the Sinulog festival scheduled from January 11-26.
Fr. Nelson Zerda, the rector at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu and executive chair of Fiesta Señor 2024, explained that this visitation tradition allows devotees in remote areas to pray to the Holy Child Jesus.
The image initiated its visits at the Cebu South Medical Center and the Talisay City Jail through a mobile procession, with plans to visit two private hospitals in Mandaue City and the City Jail there on the following day.
Subsequent visits are scheduled for the Cebu City Operations Second Chance Center, Cebu City Jail’s female and male dormitories, Cebu City Medical Center, Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center, and five private hospitals over the weekend and Monday.
During the send-off Mass, Fr. Justin Fulton of the Diocese of Nebraska, USA, expressed gratitude to the Cebuanos for maintaining their faith since 1521.
“I want to thank you all out in the congregation for living your Catholic faith in a beautiful, exuberant, and joyful way. It is edifying to see so many people at Mass this morning and to see smiling faces of everybody here,” remarked the American priest in his homily.
In terms of security, Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson for Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas), stated that a threat assessment is ongoing to determine the required deployment of security forces for the Sinulog celebration. In 2023, 19,000 personnel, including police, soldiers, coast guard, and firefighters, were deployed for Sinulog security. (PNA)
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