Simbang Gabi begins on December 16 and ends at midnight of December 24th when a midnight mass is held.

Simbang Gabi ( SG) literally means Night Mass. It is also known by its popular Spanish name, Misa de Gallo or "Mass of the Rooster.''

Significance of Simbang Gabi. Although it is still within the Advent Season, special permission has been granted to make Simbang Gabi a festive celebration. The spiritual experience from this celebration enables the faithful to joyfully anticipate the coming of the Messiah in their faith communities, homes and in their hearts.

The Origin of Simbang Gabi. The tradition of midnight mass on Christmas Eve was first chronicled by a Galician woman, who witnessed how the early Christians of Jerusalem honored the Christmas mystery with a midnight vigil at Bethlehem, when she went on a pilgrimage to Holy land around 381- 384. Half a century later, Pope Sixtus 111 instituted the practice of a midnight mass after the cockcrow.

In 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

In another article written, the beginning of Simbang Gabi traces its roots way back to 1669 during the early days of Christianity in the Philippines. The tradition of SG was introduced by the Spanish friars so the farmers can hear mass before they set off to work in the fields early in the morning. Most parishes then started the dawn masses as early as 4 o'clock in the morning.

Simbang Gabi as practiced today. In the Philippines, the tradition of celebrating Simbang Gabi still continues but over the years some changes were made by the Filipino communities on how it is celebrated. Some parishes now celebrate the SG mass around 8 or 9 in the evening to accommodate the needs of the community, other parishes still hold the dawn masses.

Most churches display the Nativity scene, or Belen, in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It shows baby Jesus in a manger with Mother Mary and Saint Joseph and includes the three wise men carrying their gifts to the infant Jesus and the star of Bethlehem that guided them in their journey.

In January 1992, as the outreach to the Filipino Community in the Diocese of San Bernardino continued to flourish, the Filipinos came together for the celebration of Diocesan Simbang Gabi novenas. With the ratification of the FILM DSB's Constitution and By-Laws in 1994, the first Filipino Ministry- Diocese of San Bernardino Simbang Gabi kick off was celebrated. And each year, all the Filipino Ministry in each parish in the Diocese of San Bernardino celebrate Simbang Gabi masses. Some parishes host all the nine days of Simbang Gabi masses, others host one evening mass each year. Our Filipino Ministry - THNJ parish host one evening of the Simbang Gabi mass each year.

It is the hope of our Filipino Ministry that this Simbang Gabi mass celebration will foster sharing of faith and provide an opportunity for experiencing diverse religious expressions and cultural traditions, thereby strengthening fellowship and family life in the community.

- Compiled by : Dr. Susan Protacio 12/08/2020