Publisher's Note
It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
Visitors to Pinoytimes
Page added on November 22, 2010
SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the Philippines. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass. The custom lasts for nine days, starting on December 16 up to December 24 during which Filipinos attend dawn masses, usually starting at around 4:00 – 5:00 AM. After the mass, families and friends partake of a hearty breakfast of Filipino pastries and delicacies. This practice started centuries ago during the Spanish colonial period. Priests held early dawn masses for the farmers who wanted to attend mass but could not leave their work in the rice fields. These masses were held before daybreak, hence the Filipino term ‘Simbang Gabi’. This nine-day novena culminates with the ‘Misa de Gallo’ or at midnight on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ
Simbang Gabi is not just a tradition that is celebrated because Filipinos need to do so. It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members and the community but also because it is a time when our faith is intensified. This is the time when we mostly feel the presence of the Lord because it is the spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Living abroad does not necessarily break the preservation of our Filipino tradition, however, celebrating ‘Simbang Gabi’ outside the Philippines requires some creative planning on the part of its organizers. In Calgary, because the Filipino community does not have its own church and its members are deeply integrated in the respective parishes where they belong, the success of holding a ‘Simbang Gabi’ novena depends foremost on the availability of parishes willing to host such event. This year, 10 Calgary Catholic Churches has committed to celebrate the ‘Simbang Gabi’.
Dec. 3 Fri St Joseph 640 – 19 Ave NW 7:00 pm caroling 7:30 pm mass
Dec. 4 Sat. St Patrick 1414 Shawnessy Blvd NW 7:00 pm caroling 7:30 mass
Dec. 5 Sun St Peters 541 Silvergrove Dr NW 6:30 pm caroling 7:00 pm mass
Dec. 10 Fri. Corpus Christi 404 Northmount Pl NW 7:00 pm caroling 7:30 mass
Dec. 11 Sat. St Thomas More 15 Templebow Rd NE 7:00 pm caroling 7:30 mass
Dec. 12 Sun St Famille 1717 – 5 St SW 5:30 pm caroling 6:00 pm mass
Dec. 17 Fri Ascencion 1100 Berkshire Blvd NW 7:00 pm caroling 7:30 pm mass
Dec. 17 Fri Holy Trinity 1525 – 45 St SE 6:00 pm caroling 7:00 pm mass
Dec. 18 Sat Sacred Heart 1307 – 14 St SW 6:30 pm caroling 7:00 pm mass
Dec. 19 Sun Canadian Martyrs 85 Northmount Dr NW 6:00 pm caroling 6:30 pm ‘Misa de Aguinaldo’
NOTE: Potluck/reception and fellowship will follow after the mass.
To view our last year ‘Simbang Gabi’ pictures, please visit http://simbanggabi.yolasite.com/
RELATED STORIES
LATEST HEADLINES
COMMUNITY NEWS
A new way forward for some immigration application processing timesPINOY STORIES
Duterte signs National ID System ActPINOY SPIRIT
HAVE YOUR SAY
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, dolor sit ipsum.PROMOTIONAL BLOCK
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, dolor sit ipsum.TRAVEL NEWS
PINOY TOONS
Tags
Archives