Quiapo, as a chief place of worship and devotion, never sleeps. It is always up and doing its multifarious affairs that keep people inspired and delighted. The most meaningful and compelling daily activity that happens in Quiapo is the conduct of the Holy Mass attended by numerous devotees coming from different places in the country and abroad. Most of the devotees participate intently in performing the rituals that make up the Holy Mass. As a congregation, the devotees engage themselves actively in prayer by repenting for their sins, by communicating their personal petitions, and by singing hymns of praise the divine. An ordinary day in Quiapo is described by Reyes: “Devotees of the Señor stream into the church to pay their respects, to worship his much-touched and adored feet and to make entreaties for good fortune” (46).

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          Devotees act upon their spiritual zeal and commitment in Quiapo any day of the week but most especially during Friday, which is regarded as Quiapo day. Friday is specifically designated as the day when most people go to Quiapo to perform their religious dedication and to venerate the Black Nazarene. On Friday, Holy Masses are scheduled by the hour (except 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 n.n. and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.), starting early in the morning at 4:00 o’clock and ending the day with a Holy Mass in the evening at 8:00 o’clock. Every hour, the Quiapo Church is always filled with countless people joined together to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. It also holds a weekly novena every Friday. Every Thursday before First Friday, healing services are conducted with priests administering the blessings. Confessions are readily available beginning 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. For the devotees, their journey to Quiapo is made more profound and remarkable by the blessing of having attended the Holy Mass.

 

          People are cognizant of the spiritual wealth in Quiapo Church and there is a huge attendance in the Holy Mass every day, especially on Friday. The devotion to the Black Nazarene has increased and it is marked by steadily rising attendance of churchgoers as well as the “30 percent increase and a lot of dioceses are asking for crucifixes from Quiapo Church.” This was the answer provided by Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio, the Rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), when asked in an interview by the Catholic News Agency if the devotion to the Black Nazarene has increased. The Quiapo Church has also been remodeled and has acquired the adjacent properties to accommodate the rising needs of its parishioners and devotees.