The Simbang Gabi tradition unites Filipinos around the globe amid the new Covid-19 variant and looming travel restrictions.
SIMBANG Gabi will be celebrated once again at St. Peter Basilica, the papal enclave. The mass will be presided by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
The nine-day novena mass is a Filipino tradition that started in 1600s to allow farmers to hear mass before going out to work in the fields.
Since then, Filipinos including those in other parts of the world like the US, Middle East, Europe, and others have been continuing to observe the tradition.
This is the sixth year the Simbang Gabi will be celebrated at St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City.
Simbang Gabi for the Filipino Catholic Community in Italy will be observed first at Santa Pudenziana Basilica on December 15 around 6 p.m. Italy time, according to Fr. Ricky Gente, chaplain of the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy in Rome.
The 4th century basilica was designated as the official church of the Filipinos.
Come December 19 onwards, the venue will transfer to St. Peter Basilica to be presided by Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
“Simbang Gabi this year 2021 has Cardinal Tagle the president. On December 19, at 4:30 p.m. We reserved 500 sitting tickets. You can enter the Vatican there, only 500 have seats,” said Flordeliza Racadio, Secretary of the Pastoral Council of the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy.
In Hong Kong, the nine masses will be held at the St. Joseph’s Church Parish. While multiple churches in Taiwan will hold Simbang Gabi masses including at St. Joseph Parish in Kaohsiung, and St. Michael Church in Taipei.
However, in-person masses will not be allowed in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Instead, the St. Mary’s Catholic Church invites the faithful to attend masses virtually thorough streaming.
Filipinos in Sydney, Australia have already started their first Simbang Gabi at Our Lady of Dolours Chatswood Parish last December 11.
Simbang Gabi also started early in New York City, USA last December 6. The novena masses are being held at the Philippine Center along 5th Ave., organized by the Philippine Consulate General.
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