The Archdiocese of Chicago to Celebrate its 38th Annual Simbáng Gabi Novena from December 15 – 23, 2023
Chicago, (Dec. 12, 2023) – The Archdiocese of Chicago will celebrate its 38th annual Simbáng Gabi novena starting on Friday, Dec. 15 through Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Sponsored by the archdiocese’s Asian Catholic Initiative office, Simbáng Gabi is one of the oldest and most revered Filipino Christmas traditions. This year, Chicago-area Filipino Catholics have organized Simbáng Gabi Masses at nearly 60 archdiocesan churches with the theme “Growing in love for the Eucharist.”
“Simbang Gabi is a beautiful and festive Filipino practice in anticipation of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” said Fr. Phi Nguyen, coordinator of the archdiocese’s Asian Catholic Initiative ministry. “These Masses are celebrated with abundant enthusiasm by all participating, as they express their hope, gratitude, and joy to God, expressing the message of the Universal Church through Filipino customs, with joyous music, the carrying of parols, and, often following the Mass, the sharing of fellowship and traditional Filipino food.”
Simbáng Gabi is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother traditionally celebrated in a series of dawn Masses by Filipino Catholics around the world. The Masses include liturgies, music, native delicacies and the treasured Filipino Christmas star-shaped symbol of the parol lantern that represents the star of Bethlehem.
The tradition is traced back to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the Philippines. At the time, the Filipino people adopted the tradition of celebrating pre-Christmas Masses before daybreak known by the popular Spanish name “Misa de Gallo” or "Rooster Mass.'' Simbáng Gabi culminates with the Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of Jesus Christ.
For more information about Simbáng Gabi and for a full schedule of Masses, please visit https://aci.archchicago.org/events/simbang-gabi.
