Fil-Ams flock to Simbang Gabi to usher in Christmas

Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez concelebrates the first of nine Holy Masses with other bishops and priests from the Archdiocese. Photo from Andy Tecson

LOS ANGELES – The beloved Simbang Gabi Christmas tradition, which began this week, drew tens of thousands of Filipino Catholics to churches across the United States.

In Los Angeles, Simbang Gabi – a series of Holy Masses leading up to Christmas Eve – kicked off yesterday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Archbishop José H. Gomez concelebrated the first of nine Holy Masses with other bishops and priests from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The 16th Annual Commissioning Mass for the Simbang Gabi was organized by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Photo from San Francisco PCG

Representatives of more than 120 parishes from the five pastoral regions in the Archdiocese participated in the Mass and procession of colorful Christmas lanterns or parol.

In the Bay Area, the 16th Annual Commissioning Mass for the Simbang Gabi, organized by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Wednesday.

Consulate General Neil Ferrer and  Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil joined the Filipino Catholic community at the annual religious event that also included a parol procession.

In Houston, Texas, Simbang Gabi began this week in nearly 30 parishes across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

The Philippine Nurses Association of Southern California participates in the parol procession at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Photo from Marie Navarro/Facebook

The final Mass, also known as the Grand Culmination Mass, will be held on Dec. 22 at Saints Simon and Jude Parish, located at 26777 Glen Loch Drive in The Woodlands.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will lead the Dec. 22 Mass.

To see the schedule of Masses, visit the Archdiocese’s Simbang Gabi website.

In Miami, Florida, the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Miami led the celebration of Simbang Gabi 2023, with the theme, “The Christian Family: Hope of the New Evangelization.”

This novena, leading up to Christmas Eve, will take place in different parishes and conclude with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Nativity Parish in Hollywood.

The schedule of Masses is available here.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Filipino Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee led the Simbang Gabi Masses held in various churches across the Archdiocese beginning on Friday.

Sponsors of the Simbang Gabi celebrations included the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Wisconsin and the Philippine Nurses Association of Wisconsin. The schedule of Masses is available here.