ARMED with rosaries, candles and images of the Virgin Mary, an estimated 300,000 devotees joined the Walk with Mary procession in Cebu City early Friday Morning, January 17, 2020.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Frankie Jingle Lugo, event commander, said that even before the Image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe was transported to Fuente Osmeña Circle, thousands of devotees already showed up in her shrine at the National Arcdiocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The procession started around 4 a.m. from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

Thousands of personnel from the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection were stationed along the route to ensure peace and security.

When the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe arrived in the Basilica, a Holy Mass was celebrated by the pastoral team leader of Guadalupe Parish Father Eligio Suico.

During his homily, he stressed the importance of remembering our loved ones and including them when we are praying to the Holy Child Jesus.

Suico added that the faithful must live up to the Church's theme this year by giving importance to dialogue with other religions, nations and Ecumenism.

Regardless of faith, country and culture, he said that a person must value charity, unity and reconcillation.

The Traslacion proceeded after the mass where the images of the Señor Santo Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe were transported to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City. (FMD/JGS)