Simbang Gabi – Day Nine and Merry Christmas

Only one day remains until Christmas. It was amazing to have participated in the nine Masses of Simbang-Gabi in solidarity with our Filipino brothers and sisters in faith. After each Mass, we had the chance to sample some traditional Filipino food. I noticed how close-knit the Filipino Catholics are in Edmonton. Their celebration of the [...]

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Simbang Gabi – Day Eight

“And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age [...]

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Simbang Gabi – Days Six and Seven

Magandang gabi…That’s good evening in Filipino. I along with a group of friends got a bit of a Filipino lesson from the priest after Mass tonight. Tonight’s presider is one of the youngest Filipino priests in Edmonton, and is therefore affectionately known in the Filipino community as “the baby priest”. Christmas, the celebration of the [...]

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Simbang Gabi- Day Five

The priest presiding over the fourth Mass of the Simbang-Gabi novena centered his homily on St. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ genealogy. In Matthew’s Gospel, there are five women mentioned: Tamar, who seduced Judah in order to advance his familial line, Ruth the foreigner, Rahab the harlot, Bathsheba the adulteress who nonetheless bore King David a [...]

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Simbang Gabi – Day Four

I wrote in my first post on the Simbang-Gabi novena that this Filipino tradition of gathering for Mass for nine consecutive nights is meant to commemorate the nine months during which Mary bore Jesus in her womb.
At the end of last night’s Mass, those who had attended all four Masses of Simbang-Gabi so far were [...]

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Simbang Gabi – Days Two and Three

In the quiet of the night, or in morning’s early light,
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Will you hear an angel sing?
Will your own hosannas ring?
Is your heart prepared for a King?
Wait! Watch! Pray for the One who brings hope to a wearied earth.
Wait! Watch! Pray for the One who brings peace, who brings peace [...]

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Simbang Gabi Day One

Ama Namin (The Lord’s Prayer)
Ama Namin
Sumasalangit Ka
Sambahin ang Ngalan Mo
Mapasaamin ang Kaharian Mo
Dito sa lupa at para nang sa langit
Bigyan mo kami ngayon ng aming kakanin sa araw araw
At patawarin Mo kami sa aming mga sala
Para nang pagpapatawad namin sa nagkakasala sa amin
At huwag Mo kaming ipahintulot sa tukso
At iadya Mo ka sa lahat ng [...]

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