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. 12-20, Sacred Heart, 260 High St., Mount Holly.
The schedule of Mass times follows: Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 13, 4:30 p.m. with the parish Mass; Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 15-19, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner following in the auditorium.
The St. Charles Borromeo Simbang Gabi Committee and the Filipino Choir, Cinnaminson, will host the following Novena of Masses in the following parishes:
Nov. 29, 7 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2500 Branch Pike, Cinnaminson, with Father Tom Elitz as celebrant
Nov. 30, 5 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church with Father Andrew Labatorio as celebrant
Dec. 1, 7 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church with Father Roy Ballacillo as celebrant
Dec. 2, 7 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church with Father John Michael Patilla as celebrant
Dec. 3, 7 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church with Father Peter James Alindogan as celebrant
Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Holy Name Church/Resurrection Parish, 260 Conrow Rd., Delran, with Father Michael A. Gentile as celebrant
Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Jesus, The Good Shepherd Church, 805 Warren St., Beverly, with Father Jorge A. Bedoya as celebrant
Dec. 6, 7 p.m., St. Joan of Arc, 100 Willow Bend Rd., Marlton, with Father John Michael Patilla as celebrant
Dec. 7, 3 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church with Father Daniel Kirk as celebrant
Mercer County
Dec. 15, 7 p.m., St. David the King Church, 1 Village Rd., Princeton Junction
Dec. 16, 7 p.m., St. Gregory the Great Church 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square
Dec. 17, 7 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Church, 555 Yardville-Allentown Rd., Yardville
Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Incarnation Church (Incarnation-St. James Parish), 1545 Pennington Rd., Ewing.
Dec. 19, 7 p.m, St. Paul Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton.
Dec. 20, 7 p.m., St. Raphael-Holy Angels 3500 South Broad St., Hamilton
Dec. 21, 4 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua, 215 Franklin St., Hightstown
Dec. 22, 7 p.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel 137 West Upper Ferry Rd., West Trenton
Dec. 23, 7 p.m., St. Ann Church, 1253 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville
Monmouth County
Dec. 6-14, St. Veronica, 4219 Highway 9 North, Howell
The schedule of Mass times follows: Dec. 6-13, 6 a.m. The concluding Mass will be Dec. 14 at noon. Refreshments and fellowship will follow after each Mass.
The Monmouth County Simbang Gabi Community will host the following Novena of Masses in the following parishes
Dec. 12 • St. Anselm Church, 1028 Wayside Rd., Tinton Falls, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 • Holy Innocents Church, 3455 West Bangs Ave., Neptune, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 14 • St. Catherine of Siena Church, 31 Asbury Rd., Farmingdale, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 • St. James Church, 30 Peters Place., Red Bank, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 • St. Rose Church, 603 7th Ave., Belmar, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 • Nativity Church, 180 Ridge Rd., Fair Haven, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 • St. Benedict Church, 165 Bethany Rd., Holmdel, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 • St. Michael Church, 800 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 • St. Dorothea Church, 240 Broad St., Eatontown, with recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m. (A reception and fellowship will follow the Mass)
Ocean County
Dec. 13 • 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. 14 • St. Dominic Church, 250 Old Squan Rd., Brick. Rosary begins at 7 p.m. with Mass following at 7:30. Father Carlo Calisin, parochial vicar, is celebrant.
Dec. 15 • 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. 16 • 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. 17 • St. Mary of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. with Mass at 7. Father Vic Magdaraog, parochial vicar of Visitation Parish, Brick, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 18 • St. Martha Church, 3800 Herbertsville Rd., Point Pleasant. Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7 p.m. Father David Swantek, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 19 • St. Monica Church, 679 W. Veterans Hwy., Jackson. Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7. Father Alex Enriquez, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 20 • St. Luke Church, 1674 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River. Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. with Mass following at 7. Father Michael Kennedy, pastor, will be the celebrant.
Dec. 21 • St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 130 St. Maximilian Lane, Toms River. Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. with Mass following at 5:30 p.m. Celebrant is Father Edward Blanchett, pastor of Visitation Parish, Brick, and episcopal vicar of Ocean County.