CHARLOTTE — Members of the Filipino community from around Charlotte gathered Friday night, Dec. 15, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church to celebrate Simbang Gabi, a special Mass that is part of a beloved spiritual tradition from the Philippines.
The Simbang Gabi Mass dates back to the 17th century when farmers and other laborers in the Philippines attended Masses early in the morning during the days leading up to Christmas to receive special blessings before going to work. Simbang Gabi, which means “Night Mass” in Tagalog, is also called Misa de Gallo in Spanish, or “Mass of the Rooster,” as the Masses are traditionally held at dawn.
The Masses developed into a nine-day novena of worship at dawn and became a popular way for Filipinos to prepare spiritually for Christmas. Simbang Gabi in the U.S. has been adapted to lifestyles here, so the Masses are now most often held at night.
For the past 15 years, St. Thomas Aquinas' growing Filipino community has celebrated Simbang Gabi at the Charlotte parish, where the tradition continues to thrive, according to parishioner Nennette Costes, one of the organizers of the Mass. The parish also has three Dominican sisters from the Philippines who oversee faith formation programs at the north Charlotte parish.
Friday night’s Mass drew nearly 300 people, followed by a reception featuring traditional Filipino foods.
“It’s a wonderful time of the year, with the Mass and the traditional foods, and it’s also a great chance to see everybody and connect with people in the community,” said parishioner Bert Rodriguez.
The Simbang Gabi Mass featured many elements of traditional Filipino culture, with children carrying elaborate stars called “parols” – star lanterns displayed in homes and businesses in the Philippines during Advent and the Christmas season – leading the procession at the beginning of Mass.
The Mass also featured a choir singing beautiful, lilting hymns in Tagalog.
Parishioner Joie Arrojado became the coordinator of the choir several years ago and said she enjoys gathering to sing for the celebration.
“This is a wonderful chance for people to share their talents, and this is my yearly thing I do as an offering to the Lord for all the wonderful gifts He has given me during the year,” Arrojado said.
Hannah Asibal attended the celebration with her parents, her nieces and her sister. Asibal and other women in her family, and many other women who attended, wore beautiful long dresses decorated with elaborate beadwork and embroidery. The dresses are called “Filipinianas,” and are traditionally worn for Simbang Gabi and other Filipino cultural events, as well as weddings. Several men at the Mass wore traditional suits including long embroidered formal shirts called “barongs,” also worn by groomsmen at weddings and other special occasions.
“It’s a beautiful celebration because it’s a way to immerse ourselves in Filipino culture,” Asibal said. “It’s also important for younger people because we can see how important the tradition is to our parents who brought it here from the Philippines, and it’s a way for us to carry on those traditions here.”
— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy Hull
