Simbang Gabi in the time of coronavirus: Why this year's Misa de Gallo will be different
One of the Christmas traditions that we Filipinos follow is the Simbang Gabi or pre-dawn masses.
It is a tradition that started way back in 1669 during Spanish rule.
What began as a compromise to allow farmers to hear mass early before toiling in the field has become a much-anticipated holiday tradition ingrained in our cultural identity.
The Simbang Gabi - also referred to as Misa de Gallo - is held daily from December 16 to 24 from as early as 3:00 A.M. to 4:00 A.M. until 5:00 A.M.
The Simbang Gabi this year will look different though, as social distancing continues to be the norm given the threats of COVID-19.
The good news is that there will still be ceremonial masses, although the number of attendees will be limited to avoid crowd buildup.
Simbang Gabi in Las Las Piñas Church / Source: Wikipedia
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued guidelines for the churches and public to follow for this year's Simbang Gabi celebrations.
As it stands, there might be adjustments in mass timings and even venues if necessary.
“Since it is necessary to implement social distancing even in our liturgical celebrations, and this will prevent us from accommodating the many who would participate in these masses, we recommend that for Simbang Gabi, the masses in the evening can start as early as 6 P.M. and for the morning the last Aguinaldo Masses, Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi Mass can be at 6 A.M.,” the CBCP said in a statement.
“The Bishop of the place in consultation with the pastors of the parishes and coordination with the LGU could schedule more Simbang Gabi Masses in different venues which can be large enough to accommodate more people and still observing social distancing.
“On Christmas Eve, the Vigil Mass of Christmas may be celebrated from 6 in the evening. The last Mass of December 24 would take the liturgy of the Midnight Mass of Christmas. The dawn Mass of Christmas may also be celebrated early morning of December 25.”
Source: Pexels
Furthermore, mass attendees are asked to bring their image of the infant Jesus if they like as the “kissing or touching of images [are] still prohibited during this time of the pandemic.”
Churchgoers are of course required to wear facemasks, face shields, and observe physical distancing.
The public can also hear mass online. There will be a live stream of masses through Facebook and other online platforms to bring the Simbang Gabi to more people.
The Facebook page of CBCP will most likely broadcast the masses.
Churches that are already holding online masses since the start of the pandemic are also likely to do the same for the nine-day Simbang Gabi celebrations.
Just some of the churches that are live streaming their masses are:
- National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help (Parañaque City)
- St. John Bosco Parish Makati
- Santuario de San Antonio (Makati City)
- The Manila Cathedral (City of Manila)
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao (Quezon City)
- Cubao Cathedral (Quezon City)
- Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows (Quezon CIty)
- Christ the King Parish Veterans Village (Quezon City)
- Diocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño (Quezon City)
- Holy Cross Parish (Quezon City)
- Holy Family Parish in GSIS (Quezon City)
- Holy Family Parish Roxas (Quezon City)
- Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Quezon City)
- Most Holy Redeemer Parish Araneta (Quezon City)
- Nativity of the Lord Parish (Quezon City)
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Quezon City)
- Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish (Quezon City)
- Parish of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Quezon City)
- Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (Quezon City)
- Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy (Quezon City)
- Sacred Heart Parish Shrine (Quezon City)
- St. Paul the Apostle Parish (Quezon City)
- San Roque Parish Bagumbayan (Quezon City)
- Santo Cristo De Bungad Parish (Quezon City)
- Santuario de San Pedro Bautista (Quezon City)
- St. Joseph Shrine Cubao (Quezon City)
- Transfiguration of our Lord Parish (Quezon City)
- Quiapo Church (City of Manila)
- Sambuhay TV Mass by Saint Paul in Makati
- Ateneo LS Office of Campus Ministry (Quezon City)
Check the Facebook pages of these churches to confirm if they will be live streaming Simbang Gabi masses as well.
“The celebration of Christmas may be different this year. We will not have the same frenzy and stressful preparations that we had before the pandemic,” said the CBCP in closing.
“But we pray and help our faithful to see the heart and the essence of the season in the simple, sober, silent but strong and loving truth of the God who comes to us in Jesus' incarnation."
