Largest festival in Philippines to be celebrated throughout the Archdiocese of Newark
On Sunday, Jan. 15, Filipino Catholics in the Archdiocese of Newark will celebrate the Santo Niño Festival – the largest festival in the Philippines, commemorating the country’s acceptance of Christianity. The festival is traditionally held on the third Sunday of January and is celebrated by millions of people in the Philippines every year.
The devotion to Santo Niño de Cebu, the Holy Child of Cebu, dates to the 16th century when Ferdinand Magellan landed on the shores of Cebu and presented the image of the Child Jesus to Rajah Humabon, the ruler of the island, marking the beginning of the native people’s conversion to Catholicism.
A popular dance known as Sinulog — meaning “like water current movement” — reenacts this encounter of Magellan presenting Santo Niño to the Philippines.
Father JM Manolo Punzalan, director of the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark, notes that the Sinulog dances are among the most unique aspects of the celebration. Sinulog consists of two steps forward, and one step back, as dancers sway to a distinct rhythm of drums.
As the faithful process in on the day of Santo Niño, many will bring their own statue of the Child Jesus to be blessed at the altar.
This vibrant festival has been celebrated by local parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark for more than half a century, according to Father Manolo.
“Filipinos have been celebrating the Santo Niño Festival in the Archdiocese for over 50 years now. Although we don’t have a big archdiocesan event, it is big in parishes where we celebrate it,” he said.
This year, 10 churches in the Archdiocese of Newark are celebrating Santo Niño with nine-day Novena Masses leading up to a celebratory Mass.
The following parishes will celebrate Santo Niño on Jan. 15: Our Lady of Mercy in Jersey City (12 p.m.); St. Theresa in Kenilworth (12 p.m.); St. Aloysius in Jersey City (1 p.m.); St. Joseph in Lodi (1 p.m.); Divine Mercy in Rahway (3 p.m.); St. Anthony in Belleville (3 p.m.); St. Henry in Bayonne (3 p.m.)
St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield will celebrate Santo Niño on Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
St. Valentine in Bloomfield begins its Novena on Jan. 14 and celebrates the festival on Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
St. Michael the Archangel in Union will celebrate on Jan. 29 at 3 p.m.
Joe Jordan is a writer with Jersey Catholic, Archdiocese of Newark.
Featured image: Filipino Catholics process in with Santo Niño during the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on May 1, 2022 (Julio Eduardo Herrera / Archdiocese of Newark).
