‘Simbang Gabi’ held in three Carolinas churches


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By Susan Palmes-Dennis

ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—In true Pinoy fashion, a ‘Simbang Gabi’ (literally Night Mass but more accurately dubbed as Dawn Mass due to the time it is actually held) or Misa de Gallo was celebrated a week ago at St. Tomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Raymond Ekosse, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Many were surprised hearing Fr. Ekosse at the start of his homily saying ‘Magandang Gabi (good evening)’ and this was sufficient to sustain their attention for the rest of the program.

Fr. Ekosse talked mostly about Christmas traditions of Filipinos back in the Philippines and explained that the Misa de Gallo endured for Filipinos regardless of where they live in the world. In that respect, Fr. Ekosse encouraged the Filipino-Americans attending the Mass not to be embarrassed about continuing their observance of Misa de Gallo.  

He also said the presence of Christ in the Nativity scene embodies the essence of thanksgiving, of blessings received from above. 

The Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo is celebrated as a novena and consists of nine successive days of devotion and prayers. It begins in December 16. Many faithful would be happy to finish the nine days novena. 

This is the 12th year that the Filipino-American community of St. Thomas Aquinas celebrated the Simbang Gabi. After the Mass, a light reception and program followed.

Tagalog songs were sung during the Mass. Lawyer Leia Castañeda Anastacio was the soloist while Bert Rodriguez was the main vocalist who sang Sa Iyo Lamang and the song rendition left all those Filipino-Americans wistful about their homeland of the Philippines. 

In a related development, it is learned there were two other Catholic churches under the archdiocese of Charlotte whose Filipino-American communities celebrated the Simbang Gabi. The first was the St. Philipp Neri and the second was St. Peter Church. 







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