Thousands of Jesus Nazareno devotees are expected to gather later this month for the first-ever national conference organized by Quiapo Church.
Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, said the “National Balangay Conference” aims to strengthen faith and deepen devotion.
“It seeks to bring together devotees from various communities to further deepen their faith in God through devotion to Jesus Nazareno,” Licuanan told Radyo Veritas on Wednesday.
Devotees of Jesus Nazareno form balangays, or faith groups that serve as small communities of prayer and service. Each group carries a distinctive Roman-style maroon or yellow banner, called an “istandarte,” bearing the image of Jesus Nazareno and their place of origin.
The parish said there are about 600 registered balangays of Jesus Nazareno nationwide, representing nearly 13,000 active members.
Mark Joseph Verdadero, head of the basilica’s Hijos del Nazareno Affairs Office, said the event builds on the church’s ongoing diocesan pilgrimages with the Nazarene image ahead of the annual feast on Jan. 9.
He said the conference will help each balangay understand its mission in preparing for and celebrating the annual feast.
“The goal of the conference is for every balangay and devotee to understand their responsibilities during the feast and to deepen their knowledge of the Church’s catechism on the devotion to Jesus Nazareno,” Verdadero said.
The gathering’s theme, “Maria, maging huwaran ng bawat deboto, inspirasyon tungo sa pagiging misyonerong disipulo,” supports Nazareno 2026’s theme, “Dapat Siyang tumaas, at ako nama’y bumaba” taken from the Gospel of John 3:30.
Verdadero said the gathering aims to present the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of discipleship and devotion for all Nazareno devotees.
With around 4,000 expected participants, the one-day conference will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 26.
