The pews were packed Saturday for the 25th anniversary of the Simbang Gabi Mass held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake.
Simbang Gabi, a Filipino Christmas tradition, is celebrated annually in the Catholic community through Dec. 23, with each day having a distinct theme.
Saturday’s theme was, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Simbang Gabi is a nine-day novena to Mary, the Blessed Mother, celebrated by Masses typically at dawn by Filipino Catholics globally.
“The people of the Archdiocese of Chicago have come from many different lands,” Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, said in a statement to the Lake County News-Sun. “Preserving their cultural traditions enriches us all and creates a more inclusive and vibrant community.
“Simbang Gabi is a cherished Filipino tradition and our parish celebrations remind us that diversity in worship reflects the beauty and unity of our shared faith as we prepare for Christ’s birth,” Cupich said.
Catherine Joy Avena of Round Lake, a volunteer who helps to plan the church’s Simbang Gabi Mass with the Filipino ministry, said eight families with Filipino heritage who relocated to Round Lake started the Simbang Gabi celebration in 1999 at the Round Lake parish.
“We kind of work together and what’s amazing is that Simbang Gabi has always been organized by these eight families,” Avena said. “We started very, very simple with the Simbang Gabi celebration, and it evolved into this huge community celebration.
“And every year, our American friends here will ask us — ‘Oh, when is Simbang Gabi?’ — because they look forward to it,” she said.
The Lake County Choir performed Simbang Gabi songs, and Avena was a choral member that evening.
During the homily, the Rev. Michael Zoufal told the Mass attendees, “We recognize that we journey in this world together. We’re pilgrims on a journey in this world.”
St. Joseph Catholic Church has a large number of Hispanic parishioner households in addition to Filipino families.
Lake County, “is definitely a diverse community,” according to Marcus G. Melesio, an office secretary with St. Joseph Catholic Church. “People are always willing to help each other.”
Many at the Mass attended a reception after the service in the gym. Before the ceremony, two “angels” holding star lanterns garnered a lot of attention with their presence, halos and white feathery wings. The parol, a Filipino star-shaped lantern, is meant to honor the star of Bethlehem.
The two girls serving as angels fronting the procession to the altar were Maxine Lariosa, 4, and Mia Suasin, 8, both of Round Lake.
“We’re very excited,” said Maxine’s mother Khinie. “It’s our tradition back in the Philippines, so we’re just continuing what we started back home.”
J.P. Suasin, Mia’s father, said, “I’m very proud of her. She’s always active in church. She goes to Sunday school.”
According to the archdiocese, Simbang Gabi’s history is traced to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the Philippines. The Filipino people celebrated pre-Christmas Masses before daybreak, known by the Spanish name “Misa de Gallo” or “Rooster Mass.” They would walk with lanterns before dawn to church.
Simbang Gabi precedes the Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve to usher in the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Chicago, Filipino Catholics have organized Novena Masses since 1986. For 2024, 55 archdiocesan parishes will celebrate Simbang Gabi Masses.
