Simbang Gabi at Saint Agnes Catholic Church

Simbang Gabi, a Filipino word meaning “Night Mass,” is a long treasured devotional, nine-day series of Masses attended by Filipino Catholics in anticipation of Christmas, and is a revered Filipino Advent tradition.

It is similar to the nine dawn Masses leading up to Christmas Eve practiced in Puerto Rico called “Misa de Aguinaldo.” In the Philippines it is called “Misa de Gallo” or “Mass of the Rooster,” the Filipino parlance for “Simban Gabi,” which in English is translated “Dawn Mass.”

This tradition was introduced by the Spanish Missionaries in 1668 to allow the farmers to attend  Mass before going to the fields early in the morning. The Masses can start as early as 4 a.m. Since the Philippines is an agricultural country, the Spanish friars celebrate these predawn Masses so that the farmers can hear the Gospel before they set off to work in the fields. It is celebrated to honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, being the Philippines is a Marian country.

Added intentions for these Masses are for the glorification and exaltation of the Holy Mother Church, propagation of the holy Catholic faith and preservation of the newly baptized natives in the true faith. And today, Simbang Gabi continues to be celebrated for the perseverance of Filipinos in their faith and preservation of the holy religion in their part of the world, and in particular, at St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge. It began  Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The Mass is celebrated in Filipino, the official language of the Philippines. The people are called Filipinos. There are many dialects spoken in the Philippines and Tagalo vernacular is widely spoken everywhere.

Father Joey Angeles

Retired priest, Diocese of Baton Rouge

The Simbang Gabi was initiated by the Couples For Christ group, Baton Rouge Chapter, and started in 2017 and was discontinued for a year because of the pandemic. There were some St. Agnes parishioners and other interested Catholics who celebrated with us and we would like to invite everyone to experience how the Filipino culture celebrates their tradition.