Banner... "Propaganda of the Faith"

The banner image at the top of our fides page is of the "Black Nazarene." (The Black Nazarene, Deverall, Richard. 30-9-07.) 

"Thus God made people a bit different: some with

flat noses, some with long slender noses;

some with blue eayes, some with jet-black eyes;

some with yellow hair,

some with brown hair, some with curly black hair."

The Black Nazarene is a "blackened" icon of Jesus Christ carrying a cross.  The statue is a replica of the original wooden icon, which was not black.  The Feast of the Black Naraene, the patron saint of Quiapo, is held every January 9.  Quiapois a small but well-known part of Manila, Phillippines. 

Each year crowds of people come to visit the "Black Nazarene" on the feast day and pray.  They are from all different origins and different religions.  They pray for civil peace and for religious freedom and for those oppressed by racism and strife.  

The statue is carried through the crowds by bearfoot men who struggled to show the humility of belonging to Our Lord.  Many attempt to touch the statue as an answer to their prayer and for his "miraculous" healing.  He is know to be the "power" to many who follow Him for he overcomes death.

He calls to us to hear and believe, "The Good News."