Simbang Gabi 2017

                  

Simbang Gabi 2017

                   The atmosphere and the lithosphere of the Planet Earth begin to change days into an amazing moments where lights sparks and breeze bond hearts. December, a month of love and giving. People wear their best smiles and faith grows as the world celebrates the birth of the savior.

            Jesus, the king and the Messiah was born in this month. Christians and non-Christians celebrates the Christmas Day. Nations of the world will celebrate with harmony in Christ.

            December 25 was the day Jesus born and the day where the earth was in peace. Together with all Christians, people in Alabel will also celebrate the Christmas day. But before that day, a nine consecutive dawn or early morning masses will be held as part of Filipino Catholic tradition it is called “Simbang Gabi” but during Spanish Era it was commonly known as “Misa de Gallo”. The nine days symbolizes the nine months’ Mary pregnancy to Jesus. People will wake up early to prepare themselves and attend mass.

            Every masses would start at exactly four o’clock in the morning. The church were covered with lights and Christmas songs will energize every churchgoers. Food stalls and flowers are available in front of the church. People in the midst of cold breeze with often snap a sleep to accommodate their pending siesta. But what encourage people to attend Simbang Gabi was their faith, an unexplainable faith. Some people completed the nine days in order to achieve or fulfill prayers or some wishes to God. Others will only go to the church as part of bardaka’s invitation.

FIRST DAY

            Today is the first day of the Simbang Gabi. We woke up early and prepared ourselves. It’s 3 o’clock in the morning, I already took a bath and drunk a hot chocolate. Together with my mother, my younger sister and my younger brother, we walked along the dark streets in order to go to the church. We came to the church at exactly 3:35 in the morning and theirs a few people inside the church. The mass started at exactly 4 o’clock in the morning and the church was already full.

           

            The mass celebrant was Rev. Fr. Leonardo “Toto” Rano. He was the parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Alabel. The general theme for Simbang Gabi 2017 was “The Christian family plants and nourishes the seed of vocation to the priestly and consecrated life”

            Fr. Rano led the mass in solemn as the people participated in a unison voice praising God. As expected, many people will attend the mass because it is the first day. People wore their beautiful dress while some were still fighting sleep hangover. The wind were not so cold compare to other day. The smell of the incense added to the divine presence inside the church. In his brief homily, he shared about the meaning and history of the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo. Fr. Rano also mentioned the celebration for the six year as preparation for the coming Great Jubilee in 2021, this year the Holy Catholic Church of the Philippines will celebrate 2018 as “Year of Clergy and the Consecrated Life”. Great Jubilee marks the 500 years of Catholicism in the Philippine Island since the year 1521. As part of the Diocese of Marbel 30 year’s tradition, every Simbang Gabi mass will have an assigned sharer. The introductory sharer was Mrs. Lumayag.

            Mrs. Lumayag started the introduction for the Simbang Gabi 2017. She mentioned the themes for this very occasion starting this day until December 24, Christmas Eve. The sharer defined the clergy and the consecrated life as the church will celebrate the Year of Clergy and the Consecrated Life. She distinguished a Diocesan and Religious Priests as well as their functions and spiritual obligations. Mrs. Lumayag enumerated several religious orders in the Diocese of Marbel.

            Fr. Toto, ended the mass with an amplification that family was important in the life of any clergy and religious people. The priestly vocation and family life was an associated inkling towards God’s plan. He also reminded people as to the true meaning and purpose of the Simbang Gabi. It is not about wishes alone but it is a thanksgiving and preparation for the second coming of Christ Jesus.

            We already finished the first day and there’s still eight days to come as we wait the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ in the celebration of Christmas.

SECOND DAY

            Second day of the Simbang Gabi seems a part of my senses. I woke up early as my alarm clock reminded me to do so. With my mother we went to the church. We seated in the third chair in the front.

            The mass presider for today’s mass was Rev. Fr. Ricky Emboltorio. He was the parish vicar of our parish. While the today’s sharer was Mrs. Araceli J. Dinopol. The theme for today’s Simbang Gabi centered to the important role of the family on vocation to the priestly and consecrated life. She mentioned about how family creates great impact to the church as the family is considered as a domestic church. The values and faith were first taught by our parents as our first teacher and catechist in home.

            Mrs. Dinopol shared her life experience as mother of three and the challenges they encountered with their children but still they overcome all of this. Fr. Ricky highlights the very important role of the family in planting and nurturing the seed of priestly vocation and consecrated life.

THIRD DAY

            The Simbang Gabi experience continue as we tracked the same routine we’ve done yesterday. Together with my mother and Lyka we walked in darkness hoping to arrive exactly to the church at 3:30 am. Lyka served as altar server because it was our GKK was the sponsor for today’s Simbang Gabi.

            The mass was led by Reverend Fr. Toto Rano. It was third day and it was observable than lesser were people went to the church. The theme for today’s mass was focused to the role of the mother and father in nurturing the seed of faith to their children.

            The mass sharer was Bro. Nelson Esmeralda, a Layco and a high school teacher. With his innate comical prowess, he shared things with regard on nurturing and transmitting Christian values to the youth. He mentioned that the father and mother has an important role as model of Christian faith. These important role transcend from generation to generation as the transmission of this virtue were eternal. What parents do seems always right to the eyes of their children that’s why live on your teaching. Fr. Toto added that his parent was an essential part of his priestly vocation where in a very young age he was expose in the religious activities. He shared that he learned to pray the rosary at the age of seven because the so called Flores de Mayo was held in their own house every May and the moment where his mother who was a novena chanter brought food to them. Eventhough, that there family was not so religious, his parent never forget to teach him the importance of family and it affected greatly to vocation he involved today.

            My mother gave the envelope of Tito Arnold because he was part of the today’s family sponsor but he didn’t attend mass.

            The mass ended at exactly 5:20 in the morning. We walked together with a large crowd of faithful going home.

FOURTH DAY

            We woke up as early as yesterday and together with my mother to go to the church. And people were few and sleepy as we came early to the ecclesiastical home we saw Auntie Soling and Auntie Marissa as they were in indulgent shuteye to forever.

            Fr. Ricky Emboltorio led the mass as we enter the fourth day of Misa de Gallo. He also the sharer for today’s mass. Fr. Ricky shared his life and the things which influenced him to be a priest. He let us saw his family and learned from his wonderful story as an ordinary kid, an altar server and a seminarian until he was ordained in the holy order as priest . The theme for today focused on the role of the siblings in planting and nurturing the seed of priestly vocation and consecrated life. Fr. Ricky once more explained to us the 9 year journey towards 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. 

            Fr. Ricky shown his gratitude to God and his prayer was to be a priest until death. He stated his mother’s generosity and the virtues they inherited from their parent. Joyfulness and optimistic outlook was reflected to Fr. Ricky’s homily. The mass ended with an overvalued applauses to God.

            We went home bringing good things and were blessed with God’s word. As Auntie Soling, Auntie Marissa and Auntie Arlene just like us were in the foot race as the cold breeze bits our natural coating.

FIFTH DAY

            Today with my mother and Lyka, we went the church to attend the fifth day of the Simbang Gabi. Cold breeze of the air never stopped our eagerness to complete what we’ve started.

            Presided by Fr. Toto, the mass centered to the declaration of an angel to Mary that she will conceived a Baby boy which is the Son of God. The Belen or the nativity scene of the holy family was already lighted up and added to so-called Christmas spirit. The church was decorated with Parol or Christmas lanterns and Christmas lights were shining inside and outside the very church vicinity.

            The today’s sharer was Sis. Teresita Golosenda. The theme of today’s mass was addressed to the role of the priest, religious brothers and sister in planting and nurturing the seed of priestly vocation and consecrated life. She mentioned the humanly characters and attitudes of the priest as well as their sacrifices and commitment to serve the people of God. She also provided us data and numbers relating to the population of the priests and religious people in the Philippines and in the world, she provided us the glimpse of the clerical life and history.

            Sis. Teresita shared her experiences especially in meeting various high church leaders like Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop Soc, Cardinal Vidal and Bishop Gutierrez. She observed the similarities this people had in common. Lay people should understand their priest instead of criticizing them  we should pray to their safety and God may gave them strength because like us they are all human being and done mistakes.

            Fr. Toto added that no one inside the church can equal the role and the responsibilities what a single priest can done especially in officiating the sacraments like baptism and matrimonial rites. He also shared the reasons that inspire young people to enter priesthood and religious life. In spite of the statistics, priest still done all their obligations to share the gospel and act as a spiritual father to the large Christian populace.

SIXTH DAY

            Today was the sixth day of the Simbang Gabi. We woke up as we heard the alarm and prepared ourselves. We drink coffee and minutes passed by we already heard the Christmas songs from church and we were magnetized to it. I and my mother walked the street as we repeated the same routine we done yesterday.

            We already in the church at exactly 3: 34 o’ clock in the morning. The mass started at 4 and Fr. Ricky Emboltorio led the mass. The today’s mass focused to the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptizer.

            The theme for today’s Simbang Gabi was centered to the role of Catholic Educational Institution in planting and nurturing the seed of priestly vocation and consecrated life. Bro. Victor Lomocso was the today’s sharer.  He shared the important role of Catholic Educational Institution in nurturing the spiritual vocations and the catechism among Catholic and non-Catholic students. Sir Victor mentioned his personal experience as teacher in a Catholic School. He worked in a Catholic school for almost 2 decades and he encountered many students of him who became priests and religious people. For him, catholic schools continued to do their purpose to the Christian community together with its respective administration and the religious orders who run it.

            Fr. Ricky added his experience as a product of a Catholic School. He shared the importance of prayer and faith which was inside a Catholic school.

SEVENTH DAY

            Today is the seventh day of the annual Simbang Gabi. Together with my mother and Lyka, we arrived at exactly 3:17 A.M.

            The mass was focused on the Mary’s longest prayer called the Magnificat. Fr. Leonardo Rano led the mass. 

            Today’s sharer was Mrs. Pinky Labaniego, who spoke about the role of the Christian Community in planting and nurturing the seed of vocation to the priestly and consecrated life. She reminisced her experience that challenged her faith. Sis. Pinky emphasized the important role of the community to influence many people especially the youth in finding their vocation in life.

            Fr. Toto added that entering a priestly and religious was not only the person’s decision because the community they belonged also was the other factor. The environment affects largely to the decision of somebody who wanted to enter religious vocation. What he see and experience during his/her formation days as children will affect his entire decision and life in general.

            We went home together with a multitude of faithful. In the way we met Auntie Sally, Vice, Auntie Soling and Auntie Marrissa.

EIGHTH DAY

            It was the eight day of the Simbang Gabi. I, together with my mother we walked as we allowed ourselves to enter the church for the holy mass. We arrived at exactly 3:09 A.M.

            The mass centered to birth of John the Baptist. The mass presider was Rev. Fr. Ricky Emboltorio.

            The mass sharer was Sis. Julieta V. Lomocso. She talked about the role of Mary as star of the evangelization and model of priestly and consecrated life. Sis. Lomocso shared her life experiences and the role of Mary to her religious vocation. She quoted several Pope’s quote about Mary as the true disciple of Jesus.

            Fr. Ricky added his message of love and thanksgiving. He sent his warm greetings to all the faithful of Alabel.

NINTH DAY

            The last of the Simbang Gabi. We woke up as early as we could in order to arrive earlier.

            Fr. Toto summarized and explained the Simbang Gabi theme for the pass eight days.

            We perfected the Simbang Gabi together with my mother.