Filipino Locals Celebrate Simbang Gabi

Despite a rainy evening Sunday, the pews atwere lined with parishioners eagerly anticipating the start of the Simbang Gabi.  

A variety of Christmas songs filled the air as the choir regaled the awaiting audience.  As the Mass was about to start, the cantor welcomed the assembly by recounting the history of the celebration and the traditions surrounding it. 

Simbang Gabi, or Mass at dawn, is an advent novena of nine masses, culminating into the Misa de Gallo, on Christmas Eve. A Filipino tradition, the Masses dedicated to the Virgin Mary serve as a time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, and to prepare for the observance of the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Each year, various parishes in Los Angeles host one of the nine Masses. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles hosts the first Mass of the series with Cardinal Roger Mahony as the celebrant and an audience representing all 120 parishes in Southern California. This year's Simbang Gabi theme is "Recognizing the presence of Christ, way to unity and peace."

The fourth Mass of the series was held in at St. Charles Borromeo, with local priests and San Fernando Valley residents with interest in the tradition of the Philippines. It was celebrated by Msgr. Robert J. Gallagher with co-celebrants Rev. Preston Passos, Rev. Julio Gonzales, Msgr. Lorenzo Miranda and Rev.  Antony Chinnapan. Msgr. Gallagher's sermon emphasized the theme by calling parishioners to recognize holiness in their daily lives.

According to Fae Hensen, the Simbang Gabi coordinator, the parish's involvement started 15 years ago when a group of Filipino families with children attending the school approached the late Msgr. Thomas Kiefer.  The collaboration between the families and the parish resulted in St. Charles' yearly participation in the Simbang Gabi rotation.  In its earlier stages, attendance was at 150 participants.

"Even with four to five parishes holding Simbang Gabi at the same night, attendance reaches up to 600 people," commented Hensen. 

The mass was followed by a dinner reception at the parish's hall.  Traditional Filipino food was served along with music provided by the choir.  

Throughout the celebration, the Christmas spirit was prevalent, warming the attendees despite the cold, rainy weather outside.