Townsfolk in farm tractors, tricycles and some four-wheel vehicles to SUVs joined the two-kilometer procession from the Anao exit to the parish church.
According to Church history, the Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth bearing the image of a crucified man, believed to be Jesus of Nazareth. It came to light in Turin the Middle Ages where it is now kept, although rarely shown because of its fragility.
It has been the subject of great devotion and also of intense scientific study.
The image, showing the marks of Jesus’ crucifixion, does not appear to have been painted, but has been miraculously imprinted into the cloth, Curdh history said.
San Jose City Bishop Roberto Mallari who led the ceremonies and the Mass, said in a prayer, the presence of the Shroud of Turin “will increase our devotion and our task to becoming a living witness in living our faith bounded by Your unconditional love and your unending blessings.”
“We hope that the Shroud of Turin can change our lives as well as increase our faith so we can respond with great joy in a much deeper expression,” Mallari said, stressing that looking at the veil should remind the faithful of Jesus’ pains and transform leaders to servants.
This should result to unity among people in diversity, he added.
Parish priest Christian Magtalas said the enthronement of the Shroud of Turin in their church “comes in perfection with the parish being the Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, the handkerchief- sized cloth used by the Risen Christ.”
“Itong dalawang veil na ito, ito yung pinaglapat at perfectly nag-match. Nakita na owned by one person and it’s Jesus Christ,” Magtalas said Lorna Mae Vero, Nueva Ecija tourism officer, said the provincial government is set to develop the one-hectare land in front of the Church to cater pilgrims who have started to flock here since the enthronement of the Holy Face a couple of years ago.
