Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo)
December 16-24, 2009 at 5 a.m.

Simbang Gabi (Night Masses)

"Simbang Gabi," literally translated as "Mass of the Night," is a 400-year-old Christmas tradition of the Philippines where the yuletide season starts as early as September and lasts until the feast of the Three Kings in January. It is a 9-day novena of Masses from December 16 - 24, to usher in the birth of the Christ. So called by the Tagalog-speaking population in the island of Luzon, in other parts of the country it is known as "Misa de Gallo," or "Mass of the Rooster" -perhaps because only roosters are up so early! The Masses are also referred to as "Misa de Aguinaldo," or "Gift Mass."

Introduced in the 17th century by Spanish missionaries, the Masses were held in the predawn hours so farmers and fishermen, who started their labor for the day early, could take part as well. In fact, flickering candles from the star-shaped Christmas lanterns known as "parols" would adorn the outside of humble homes to light the way for the early-morning churchgoers on their way to "Simbang Gabi". Even today, the "parol" is so much a part of the tradition.

And so, Filipino immigrants bring this tradition with them wherever they go. It is no surprise that they brought it here to the United States. There are many other "Simbang Gabi" Masses, all of them in the evening. Only at St. Charles in Arlington, Virginia does the tradition of Masses at the break of dawn for 9 days continue.

How it Began

It is not easy keeping a tradition alive. It started rather simply in 1997 when a couple asked the then new pastor if they could hold the dawn Masses in the parish. The good father gave his blessing. No more than half a dozen families participated in the beginning. In fact, any day where there were 2 or 3 dozen at the Masses was considered quite a success. By 2006, over a hundred people came every single day -the number more than doubling on the weekends. With the nurturing and nourishment of the community, the tradition is alive and well in the parish. In many ways, Simbang Gabi here at St. Charles goes beyond the boundaries of the parish. It draws many Filipino families from outside the parish - even outside the diocese yearning to continue their observance of this beloved tradition. St. Charles has hosted this annual celebration for 13 years now, and as more and more non_Filipino parishioners embrace the tradition, it has become truly a parish event in more ways than one.
In commemoration of the 100th year anniversary of St. Charles, all collections from this year’s dawn masses will go to the Centennial Campaign Fund.

What You Can Expect

The Masses are in English, celebrated by our parish clergy as well as visiting priests. Some prayers and carols are in Pilipino. But no matter the language of your birth, when we all sing and pray from our hearts, we can only realize how truly universal our faith is. The current Missal is observed, and there is a short novena after communion every Mass. In keeping with tradition, attendees enjoy hot food and drinks after every Mass.

We hope that you come and join us. What else would you do at 5:00 a.m. on a December morning? At 5:00 o'clock in the morning, there will  not be much pomp or circumstance, but we all will have our simple faith.

Celebrant's Schedule of Masses

    * Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 _ Fr. Jack O'Hara
    * Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 _ Fr. Clement Aapengnuo
    * Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 _ Fr. Randy Gonzales, C.I.C.M.
    * Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 _ Fr. Anselm Malonda, C.I.C.M.
    * Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 _ Fr. Gerard Creedon
    * Monday, Dec. 21, 2009 _ Fr. Steve de Leon, S.V.D.
    * Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 _ Fr. Pete Literal
    * Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 _ Fr. Joseph D. Opalda, Jr.
    * Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 _ Fr. Jack O'hara

About Our Celebrants...

Fr. Gerard Creedon hails from Ireland and is the Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington VA. He gave his blessings 12 years ago for the parish to host our annual dawn Masses, and continues to support the tradition. His passion for social justice drives his tireless advocacy.

Fr. Jack O'Hara is the Parochial Vicar of St. Charles Borromeo. He served as for 4 years in the diocesan mission in Banica, the Dominican Republic. Prior to that, he headed Catholic Charities for 10 years. He warmly welcomes the observance of this Christmas tradition, so don't be surprised to run into him even on mornings when he is not saying the Mass.

Fr. Anselm Malonda, C.I.C.M., is originally from The Congo Republic. He went for studies in San Antonio, TX, and ministered for 14 years in Brownsville, TX. He is the Provincial Superior of the religious order at Missionhurst here in Arlington.

Fr. Steve de Leon, S.V.D., is from Manila, Philippines and currently with the Star of the Sea Parish in Virginia Beach VA. He will once again celebrate this joyous tradition with us all the way from the Richmond diocese.

Fr. Pete Literal is a priest of the Archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas, Philippines, and has been in the ministry for 28 years. He is currently based in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC., but works full time as the Program Examiner, Religious Services Section, Program Review Division, Central Office, Federal Prison Chaplaincy Services, Federal Bureau of Prison.

Fr. Jose Opalda, Jr., is a priest of the Diocese of San Carlos, Negros Occidental in the Philippines and currently in residence at Our Lady of the Fields Parish in Millersville MD of the Baltimore Archdiocese.

Fr, Clement Aapengnuo is from Ghana where he was Director of the Northern Ghana Peace Project. He is in residence at St. Charles while he pursues his doctoral degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the George Mason University.

Fr. Randy Gonzales, C.I.C.M., is from Kalinga, Philippines. He was ordained on July 29, 2004, and served as a missionary in the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Diocese of Brownsville, both in Texas. At the present, Fr. Randy is working at the Missionhurst Development Office, located in Arlington, VA.