Children take part in a Simbang Gabi celebration in St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, in 2015. Parishes are gearing up for this year’s observances. Craig Pittelli photo

Children take part in a Simbang Gabi celebration in St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, in 2015. Parishes are gearing up for this year’s observances. Craig Pittelli photo
Simbang Gabi celebrations around the Diocese

Burlington County

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2500 Branch Pike, Cinnaminson

The schedule of dates and times are as follows:  Dec. 1, 7 p.m.; Dec. 2, 5 p.m.; Dec. 3, 7 p.m.; Dec. 4, 7 p.m.; Dec. 5, 7 p.m.; Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; Dec. 7, 7 p.m.; Dec. 8, 7 p.m.; Dec. 9, 5 p.m.

For more information, call Joeram M. Nuarin, 856-701-5733; Liz Crilley, 609-502-9963; Nene and Max Romen, 267-353-8916; Emma Gomez, 609-870-1167; Tom Dougherty, 856-303-8916; Mary Ann Figura, 609-389-0138; Ann Caruso, 609-576-0581; Ray Burzchelli, 856-786-1826; Angie Briones, 856-308-1013; Coring Babia, 856-778-8886; Carmen Masi, 856-217-1139; Father Daniel Kirk, pastor, 856-829-3322.

Sacred Heart Church, 260 High Street, Mount Holly

The schedule of dates and times are as follows: Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 9, 7 p.m.; Dec. 10-14, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m.

A Children’s Nativity will take place after the Dec. 15 Mass and a potluck supper will be held in the auditorium. To sponsor a Mass or to sign children up to participate in the Nativity, email: [email protected]

Mercer County

Dec. 15, 7 p.m., St. Raphael Church of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, 3500 South Broad Street, Hamilton

Dec. 16, 7 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 251 Franklin Street, Hightstown

Dec. 17, 7 p.m., St. David the King, 1 New Village Road, Princeton Junction

Dec. 18, 7 p.m., St. Paul Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton

Dec. 19, St. 7 p.m., St. Gregory the Great Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square

Dec. 20, 7 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Church, 555 Yardville-Allentown, Road, Yardville

Dec. 21, Incarnation Church of Incarnation-St. James Parish, 1545 Pennington Road, Ewing

Dec. 22, 7 p.m. St. Raphael Church of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, 3500 South Broad Street

Dec. 23, 7 p.m., St. Ann Church, 1253 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville

Monmouth County

Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold

Dec. 15, St. Ann Church, 311 Carr Ave., Keansburg

Dec. 16, Holy Innocents Church, 3455 W. Bangs Ave., Neptune

Dec. 17, St. Benedict 655 Bethany Road, Holmdel

Dec. 18, St. Catharine Church, 108 Middletown Road, Holmdel

Dec. 19, St. Michael Church, 800 Ocean Ave., West End

Dec. 20, St. Anselm Church, 1028 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls

Dec. 21, St. Catherine of Siena Church, 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale

Dec. 22, St. Joseph Church of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 376 Maple Ave., Keyport

Ocean County

Nine ocean County parishes have come together and planned to observe Simbang Gabi. Following is the list of parishes with information on times and dates of Masses.

Dec. 8 – St. Mary of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop’s Lane, Manahawkin. Recitation of the Rosary, 6 p.m.; Mass at 6:30 p.m. Celebrant is Father Leon Buni, parochial vicar of Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, and homilist is Father Gregg Abadilla, parochial vicar of St. Clement, Matawan

Dec. 9 – St. Catharine of Siena Church, 50 E. Street, Seaside Park. Rosary at 6 p.m., Mass at 6:30 p.m. Celebrant is Franciscan Father Thomas Bahn, parochial vicar, and homilist is Father Peter James Alindogan, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, West Long Branch, and diocesan missions director

Dec. 10 – St. John Church, 619 Chestnut Street, Lakehurst. Rosary at 7 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant is Father Daison Areepparampil, parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Red Bank, and homilist Father Carlos Calisin, parochial vicar of St. Paul Parish, Princeton

Dec. 11 – St. Monica Church, 679 West Veterans Highway, Jackson. Mass at 8 p.m. Celebrant is Father Angelito Anarcon, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale, and homilist Father Alex Enriquez, parochial vicar 

Dec. 12 – St. Dominic Church, 250 Old Squan Road, Brick. Rosary at 7 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant and homilist is Father Sheldon Amasa, parochial vicar of St. Dominic Parish, Brick

Dec. 13 – St. Joseph Church, 685 Hooper Ave., Toms River. Rosary at 7 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant and homilist is Father Scott Shaffer, pastor

Dec. 14 – St. Barnabas Church, 33 Woodland Road, Bayville. Rosary at 7 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant is Father Roberto Ignacio, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton

Dec. 15 – St. Luke Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River. Rosary at 7 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant and homilist is Father Robert Grodnicki, pastor.

Dec. 16 – St. Maximilian Kolbe, 130 St. Maximilian Lane, Toms River. Rosary at 4:30 p.m.; Mass at 5:30 p.m. Principal celebrant is Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza, papal nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.

By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

The way Father Mark Nillo sees it, there are two reasons why Simbang Gabi continues to be a beloved Filipino tradition: it brings people together to pray, exchange stories and enjoy various seasonal Filipino delicacies, and it can raise awareness to Catholic devotions unique and deeply rooted in the culture of certain ethnic groups.

“Although today the devotion comes mainly from the Filipinos’ joyful anticipation of the Christmas season, it’s like any other Catholic devotion … and  can be practiced by all the faithful, especially those who eagerly await the joyful commemoration of the Birth of Jesus,” said Father Nillo, parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish, West End.

Simbang Gabi, also known as Misa de Gallo (“Mass of the Rooster”), is a nine-day devotion that dates to the 1600s, when Spanish friars were trying to find a way to instill in the hearts and minds of Filipinos the substance of the Catholic religion and continue to evangelize. Church bells would start ringing as early as 3 a.m. during the last nine days of Advent – Dec. 16 to Dec. 24. The bells and the loud crowing of the roosters awakened the townspeople for 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. Mass, which allowed farmers and fishermen and their families to go to Mass before they worked in the fields or when they returned from the seas in the early hours of the morning.

With the 2018 Advent season quickly approaching, a number of parishes from around the four-county Diocese are incorporating the Filipino tradition as part of their pre-Christmas observances, including three in Monmouth County that are participating for the first time – St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold; St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, and St. Anselm Parish, Wayside. The Co-Cathedral will welcome Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to its Dec. 14 observance.

“This is a testament to the Filipinos’ great love for the Simbang Gabi tradition and how much they want to share this tradition with non-Filipinos,” Father Nillo said.

Father Nillo shared that he never attended a Simbang Gabi while growing up in his native Philippines. The first time he ever participated in a celebration was when he moved to New Jersey eight years ago, he said, recalling how surprised he was to know the devotion “made it to this part of the world.” He said he was also pleased to discover that parishes in the Diocese have their Masses in the evening due to winter weather and also to accommodate work schedules.

“It is also a testament to the strong support that the Filipino communities receive from parishes across the Diocese. We are grateful to the pastors and parishioners who have opened their doors to welcome the Filipinos and host the Simbang Gabi in their parishes,” said Father Nillo, who is chairman for the Monmouth County Simbang Gabi Community.

Father Nillo was pleased to share how the Monmouth County Simbang Gabi Community has chosen the Year of Youth as its theme for this year’s celebrations.

“It is time for the young people to shine,” he said, encouraging youth and young adults to be actively involved as greeters, Rosary leaders, altar servers, readers, gift bearers, choir members or serve on a decorating committee.

“Simbang Gabi really means to spiritually prepare ourselves for Christmas,” he said. “Let us use this wonderful time and opportunity to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord.”