CHURCH leaders here have expressed concern that only elderly devotees attended the ‘Traslacion’ or the procession of the Black Nazarene here Monday morning.

Archbishop Jose Cabantan, prelate of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese said GenZs and millennials are shifting away from traditional religious rituals in favor of social media and activities designed for the youth.

RELIGIOUS ICON. A devotee carries an icon of the Black Nazarene during the Translacion of the Black Nazarene here on Monday. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

“The young seem (not to) appreciate that religious rituals like the Black Nazarene help fortify their faith,” the prelate said.

The ‘Traslacion’ or the procession of the life-size replica of a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ was held here from the Cagayan de Oro Metropolitan Cathedral to the San Juan Nazareno parish church in Barangay Lapasan early Monday morning.

Nick Jabagat of the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said more than 10,000 devotees braved the inclement weather brought by the trough of a low-pressure area off Mindanao to attend the procession.

TRASLACION. Policemen and devotees form a tight ring around the carriage that carried the ‘Callejeron’ or the Black Nazareno during the Translacion here on Monday. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Jabagat said medical responders attended to two elderly devotees, one identified as Ralph del Puerto, 56 years old from Barangay 26, this city, after they complained of dizziness.

MEDICAL RESPONSE. Emergency responders check on an elderly devotee who fainted during the Translacion of the Black Nazarene here on Monday. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Cabantan was elated by this morning’s turnout.

“Despite two years of absence because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people still pray to the Black Nazarene. Sadly the youth was not there,” Cabantan said.

Father Der John Faborada, head of the Archdiocese social communication department said the absence of the youth was understandable since classes for all religious schools in the city opened on Monday.

Faborada said other youth activities of the archdiocese were well attended by the young members.

CALLEJERON. Policemen and devotees form a tight ring around the carriage that carried the ‘Callejeron’ or the Black Nazarene during the Translacion here on Monday. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Compared to Manila, devotees in Cagayan de Oro were allowed to celebrate Traslacion, or the traditional long procession transferring the image of the Black Nazarene.

This is the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that the city hold the Traslacion. During the two years of the pandemic, the image of the Black Nazarene was transported on top of a small truck and paraded around the city.

City officials allowed the holding of Traslacion but required strict health protocols be implemented including the mandatory wearing of face masks.