Jesus, The Black Nazarene Celebrates His 5th Year in Edmonton in 2020

Jesus, The Black Nazarene Celebrates His 5th Year in Edmonton in 2020

Submitted by: Bro. Julito R. Reyes, PSD, FMFD, & Nazareno Council Adviser

Thursday, January 9th, 2020 is the Fiesta day of our Lord Jesus, the Black Nazarene. He is the titular Patron of Nazareno Knights of Columbus Council No. 12904 and his statue has been housed in the chapel of St. Anthony Catholic Church, at 10661 – 82 avenue, Edmonton, Alberta since the last Friday of September of 2016.

His statue arrived in Edmonton under the careful guidance and supervision of then Nazareno Council Grand Knight Robert Croteau and wife, Tess, in August 15th, 2016. The statue was commissioned by the Edmonton 2001 charitable society in the first week of February of 2016 to a veteran sculptor/wood carver, Mr. Benjamin Bagalso of Paete, Laguna, Philippines. This statue is the exact replica of the original statue @ Church of Quiapo.

The statue was blessed by most reverend Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton on November 10, 2016 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 9830 – 148 Street, Edmonton under the sponsorship of Nazareno knights of Columbus Council No. 12904. He was assisted by three priests and two deacons. The church was standing room only during the mass. After the mass, a solemn and prayerful procession around the church neighborhood took place under the supervision of Edmonton’s finest, the Edmonton Police Service.

When Fr. Joby Augustin, CFIC, pastor of the twin parishes of St. Anthony and St. Agnes found out that we were looking for a church home for the statue of Jesus, the Black Nazarene, he gave his approval to Sr. Jane Alindajao, pastoral assistant who later informed me that a new home was waiting for the statue of Jesus, the Black Nazarene. We brought the statue to St. Anthony Church on the last Friday of September 2016 in the company of brother Knights and their wives. We were welcomed with open arms by Sr. Jane Alindajao. That week, Fr. Joby Augustin was attending a priests’ conference in Kananaskis and was due to come home that Friday.

A special mass and dinner in honor of our Lord, Jesus, the Black Nazarene, commemorating his first blessing anniversary and introducing him to the parishioners of the twin parishes of St. Anthony and St. Agnes took place on Thursday, November 19, 2016 at St. Agnes Catholic Church and merchant hall. The mass and dinner were well attended by around 220 parishioners and Nazareno families.

A Novena for his first feast day and a fiesta in Edmonton started in December 2016 and January 2017 at St. John the evangelist and was followed in the succeeding years at St. Anthony and St. Agnes Catholic churches.

From December 29th 2019 to January 9th, 2020, masses, novena prayers, and hospitalities in honor of Jesus, the Black Nazarene will be held at St. Anthony and St. Agnes Churches. On his fiesta day on January 9th, 2020, mass will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 10826 – 62nd avenue, Edmonton at 6 pm and dinner will follow immediately after the mass at Merchant Hall, St. Agnes Church.

A schedule of novena masses, church and time and other information are itemized below for your information:
December 29th – St. Anthony @10:30 am
December 30, January 02, 03 – St. Anthony @ 7:00 pm
January 04 (Sat.) – St. Anthony @ 7:30 pm
January 05 (Sun.) – St. Anthony @ 10:30 am
January 06 – St. Agnes @ 7:00 pm
January 07 – St. Anthony @ 7:00 pm
January 08 – St. Anthony @ 6:15 pm
January 09 (Fiesta day) – St. Agnes @ 6:00 pm. Dinner to follow immediately in the Merchant Hall.

We invite the public to join us and become novena patrons during novena masses. A novena patron would be big part of an evening mass. We request a donation of $70 per couple (with 2 free dinner tickets).

We also invite Filipino organizations to become sponsor patrons during novena masses. We request a donation of $200 with 2 free dinner tickets. They will also be involved in the celebration of the assigned mass.

Only 220 dinner tickets at $10 per person with children 6 years old and under – free, will be sold from January 05 to January 08 only (while quantities last) because of fire regulations in Merchant Hall. Proceeds from dinner ticket sales will be donated to Marian Centre. No dinner tickets will be sold at the door on Fiesta Night!

Dinner will be compliments of Nazareno council and Edmonton 2001 charitable society.

We encourage each attendee for the novena and fiesta masses to bring food bank items before each mass. They will be donated to the twin parishes of St. Anthony and St. Agnes food bank for their weekly distribution.

Last but not the least, you are allowed to bring your cameras and take pictures with the statue of Jesus, the black Nazarene at the conclusion of each novena prayer.

For more information, please contact: Bro. Claude De Joya, Grand Knight – 780- 292 -5519; and Bro. Babes Gonzales, Novena 2019 – 2020 Chairman – 780 – 239 – 1960.

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