Filipino Devotees in California Hold Stations Of The Cross

Cover image: Vics Magsaysay

GARDEN GROVE, California — In time for the Lenten season, some Filipino devotees of Poong Jesus Nazareno (Black Nazarene) have carried out the traditional Stations of the Cross at the grounds of Christ Cathedral at Garden Grove, California last March 13.

The Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis, is a popular devotion practiced by Catholic community during Lent. Its a 14-step prayerful pilgrimage commemorating Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth, from condemnation to entombment.

After the completion of the Fourteenth Station, the devotees accompanied the image of the Black Nazarene image inside the cathedral for the celebration of the Holy Mass.

The liturgy was attended by Bishop Kevin Vann, who also presided over the blessing marking the opening of the Poong Jesus Nazareno church in Anaheim, California last year.

The Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center, inaugurated on July 21, 2025, stands as a unique spiritual home for Filipinos and Filipino American devotees. As the first and only center of its kind in the nation, it serves the faithful of Southern California by nurturing a deeply rooted Filipino Catholic devotion. Many regard the center as a sanctuary of peace, prayer, and communal faith.

Under the spiritual direction of Fr. Peter Lavin, the center emphasizes faith formation and cultural education.

In addition to the official replica of the Poong Jesus Nazareno, the center also enshrines a replica of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (also popularly known as Our Lady of Antipolo), further enriching its spiritual offerings.

The devotion to the Black Nazarene traces its origins to 16th-century Mexico, where the image was carved from mesquite wood by an unknown artisan. In 1606, Augustinian Recollect missionaries brought the image to the Philippines, where it has since become one of the most beloved religious icons in the country.

Today, the Black Nazarene is enshrined in Quiapo Church in Manila and draws millions of devotees each year. Every January 9, the image is carried through the streets of Manila during the “Translación,” a solemn and centuries-old procession commemorating its transfer. This extraordinary display of faith continues to inspire countless devotees, many of whom bear witness to graces received, including physical healings and answered prayers.

This recent gathering at Christ Cathedral stands as a testament to the enduring vitality of this devotion, now firmly rooted among the faithful in the United States, and a powerful reminder of the universal call to prayer, sacrifice, and hope during the Lenten season.