Vancouver Archbishop asks faithful to embrace Simbang Gabi tradition

VANCOUVER – Archbishop of Vancouver J. Michael Miller has asked Vancouver Catholics, regardless of cultural background, to embrace the Filipino Simbang Gabi Christmas tradition.

In a recent pastoral letter, Archbishop Miller said the nine-day novena is “truly a gift from the Filipino community that has been shared in an increasing number of our parishes over the last twenty years.”

“It is my hope that this beautiful Novena will be embraced by many of the faithful beyond the Filipino community as a fitting way of preparing for our celebration of the Birth of the Lord at Christmas,” he said.

Archbishop of Vancouver J. Michael Miller has invited Vancouver Catholics, regardless of cultural background, to embrace the Filipino Simbang Gabi Christmas tradition. Photo from the Archdiocese of Vancouver

Simbang Gabi,  often called the “Misa de Gallo” or “Rooster’s Mass,” is a series of dawn masses leading up to Christmas Eve.

In the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the celebration of Simbang Gabi began at Corpus Christi Parish in Vancouver in 2001, according to the B.C. Catholic.

For this year’s celebration, Simbang Gabi commenced with Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral on Dec. 14, the night before the novena started.

Representatives from participating parishes attended and the Mass included a commissioning of the Simbang Gabi coordinators.

In addition to Mass, there was a procession and blessing of Filipino Christmas lanterns or parol, which will be displayed at local parishes as a symbol of the unity within the local Church.

The Archdiocese’s Filipino Ministry said the novena is a way for “Filipinos in our local Church to help all the faithful to celebrate the season of Advent and anticipate Christmas in a meaningful way.”