Updated Dec. 12, 2024
The Filipino Christmas tradition of preparing for the Birth of Jesus, known as “Simbang Gabi,” in Tagalog, and “Misa de Gallo,” or “Mass of the Rooster” in Spanish, is a series of nine dawn Masses that begin as early as 4 a.m. in mid-December and ending at midnight Dec. 24 with Midnight Mass.
This tradition began to allow the farmers to hear Mass before going to the fields early in the morning. The church bells would start ringing as early as 3 a.m. waking people up so they could get ready for the 4 a.m. Mass.
The Roman Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the “Simbang Gabi Mass.”
The following is a listing of Masses scheduled throughout the Trenton Diocese:
Burlington County
Dec. 13-21, Sacred Heart, 260 High St., Mount Holly.
The schedule of Mass times follows: Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m. with the parish Mass; Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 16-20, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 21, 6:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner following in the auditorium.
Mercer County
A Novena of Masses will be celebrated in the following parishes:
Dec. 15 • St. Anthony of Padua Church, 251 Franklin St., Hightstown, 4 p.m.
Dec. 16 • St. David the King Church, 1 Village Rd., Princeton Junction, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 • St. Gregory the Great Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 • St. Paul Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton, 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 • St. Vincent de Paul Church, 555 Yardville-Allentown Rd., Yardville, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 • Incarnation-St. James Church, 1545 Pennington Rd., Ewing, 7 p.m.
Dec. 21 • St. Raphael-Holy Angels Church, 3500 South Broad St., Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22 • Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 137 W. Upper Ferry Rd., West Trenton, 7 p.m.
Dec. 23 • St. Ann Church, 1253 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, 7 p.m.
Monmouth County
Dec. 12 • St. Dorothea Church, 240 Broad St., Eatontown, Rosary, 6:30 p.m., Mass, 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 • Holy Innocents Church, 3455 West Bangs Ave., Neptune, 7 p.m.
Dec. 14 • St. Mary, Mother of God Church, 19 Cherry Tree Farm Rd., Middletown, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 • St. Margaret Church, 300 Ludlow Ave., Spring Lake, 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 • St. James Church, 30 Peters Place, Red Bank, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 • St. Rose Church, 607 7th Ave. Belmar, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 • St. Catherine of Siena Church, 31 Asbury Ave., Farmingdale, 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 • St. Benedict Church, 165 Bethany Rd., Holmdel, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 • St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, 6 p.m. (A reception will follow)
Ocean County
Dec. 14 • St. Justin the Martyr Church, 973 Fischer Blvd., Toms River. Rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7 p.m. Celebrant is Father Mark Kreder, pastor.
Dec. 15 • St. John Church, 619 Chestnut St., Lakehurst. Rosary is at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7. Celebrant is Father Roberto Ignacio, a retired priest of the Diocese
Dec. 16 • St. Joseph Church, 685 Hooper Ave., Toms River. Rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Mass at 7 p.m. Father Scott Shaffer, pastor, is celebrant.
Dec. 17 • St. Mary of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6 p.m. with Mass at 6:30. Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 17 • St. Dominic Church, 250 Old Squan Rd., Brick. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. with mass at 7 p.m. Father Carlo Calisin, parochial vicar, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 18 • St. Luke Church, 1674 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River. Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7 p.m. Father Michael Kennedy, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 19 • St. Theresa Church, 450 Radio Rd., Little Egg Harbor. Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7. Father Roy Ballacillo, parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Pennington; St. George Parish, Titusville, and St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 20 • Visitation Church, 730 Lynnwood Ave., Brick. Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7. Father Vicente Magdaraog, parochial vicar, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 21 • St. Monica Church, 679 W. Veterans Hwy., Jackson. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6:30 with Mass following at 7. Father Alex Enriquez, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 22 • St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 130 St. Maximilian Lane, Toms River. Mass will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. by Auxiliary Bishop Efren V. Esmilla of Philadelphia.