Parish ‘maxed out to the fullest’ for Simbang Gabi

A Filipino Christmas tradition experiences growing popularity in non-Filipino parishes

A Filipino Christmas tradition is growing within the Archdiocese of Vancouver. 

Simbang Gabi was celebrated in 27 parishes last year, and Archbishop Michael Miller has expressed hopes to see even more this year.

“It is with great gratitude that we receive this beautiful gift initiated by the Filipino community, which focuses our vision on the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Miller wrote in a letter to pastors.

“My hope is for Simbang Gabi to be embraced by the faithful beyond the Filipino community.”

Simbang Gabi (“night Mass” in Tagalog), is a Christmas novena that originated in the Philippines in the 17th century. It involves a celebration of the Eucharist in the early morning hours for nine consecutive days before Dec. 25.

One of the organizers of the anticipated celebration at St. Mary’s Parish in Vancouver, Daisy Descallar, explained how special the event is to Filipinos.

“Completing the nine days novena is a tradition by every Filipino, especially when they are asking for a favour and they know from their hearts their wishes will be granted,” she said.

“St. Mary’s is maxed-out to the fullest every year,” she added. 

“The people like to carry that custom with them,” said Father Joseph Nguyen of St. Andrew’s Parish in Vancouver. Father Nguyen is one of about nine non-Filipino priests who celebrate Simbang Gabi, during which priests wear white vestments for Mass, instead of the purple ones usually worn during Advent.

Father Nguyen describes it as a spiritual preparation for Christmas. “I think it is beautiful. You have Mass at 6 in the morning for nine days. After Mass, we have breakfast together and people can go to work.”

Father Ronnie Custorio has been celebrating Simbang Gabi since he was young and says it is remains one of his favourite times of the year.

“We really feel the deep solemnity of the celebration,” he said, describing it as a joyous occasion. “Everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration. Everyone is invited. I believe that the time of the day where this one is designed is very accommodating for working people around the area.”

The early start stems from Simbang Gabi’s Filipino origins, said Father Nguyen. “People have to go to Mass that early so that they can go to work and beat the heat. That is why we have very early Mass in the Eastern countries.”

He acknowledge it is “a holy sacrifice” to get up so early for Mass, but despite the early hour, Father Nguyen noted that the church is often full with hundreds of worshipers.

He hopes more parishes will promote Simbang Gabi, describing it as  “a good thing for the parish and for the people who are involved because they feel the spirit of Christmas.”

On Saturday, Dec. 14, Archbishop Miller will celebrate a commissioning Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral for parishes participating in Simbang Gabi. Representatives of each parish hosting Simbang Gabi will be present.

Dec. 14 also marks the start of the 500-day countdown to the Philippines’ quincentennial celebration and the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.

A full list of parishes celebrating Simbang Gabi is available here. Many Masses will be celebrated in English and Tagalog.

Filipino tradition has origin in Mexico

According to the Archdiocese of Manila, Simbang Gabi traces its origins to 16th-century Mexico and a monastic monk by the name of Fray Diego de Soria.

He is said to have received Vatican permission to hold an outdoor Mass at dawn for Christmas to accommodate all the people. It evolved into the novena tradition of holding an early morning Mass on each of the nine days before Christmas.

According to Filipino priest Father Ben Torreto, these Masses were called the “Misa de Gallo,” Spanish for “Mass at the rooster call.”

Having Mass at such an early time in the morning helped people embrace the penitential spirit of Advent, he said.

Spain brought the tradition of novenas to the Filipinos, who embraced the practice and have been celebrating it ever since. (CNA)

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