By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

The ancient rituals of the Roman Catholic Church were proclaimed in Tagalog, the language spoken by a quarter of the people in the Philippines, during a Sept. 29 Mass celebrated in St. Michael Church, West End. The Mass, attended by Filipino Americans and others from throughout the Diocese, marked the joyous observance of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the island nation’s first native-born saint and martyr.

Photo Gallery: Mass in Tagalog in St. Michael Church, West End.

Father Alex Enriquez, administrator of St. Monica Parish, Jackson, served as
principal celebrant and homily. Concelebrating priests included Father John Butler, pastor of St. Michael Parish, and Father Mark Nillo, parochial vicar. Choir members from St. Monica Parish led the congregation in song.

“This is to celebrate the Filipino heritage and culture,” said Father Nillo, a native of the Philippines who was ordained a priest for the Trenton Diocese in 2014. Though St. Michael Parish itself does not have a significant Filipino population, he said, the congregation was filled with worshippers from the parishes of St. Dorothea, Eatontown; Holy Innocents, Neptune; St. Monica, and others.

Masses in the Diocese had been celebrated in many tongues, such as  Italian, Latin and Irish, noted Father Nillo. Simbang Gabi, the nine-day novena before Christmas, employs elements of the Tagalog language, but, to his knowledge, this marked the first time Tagalog was used as the primary language of an entire liturgy.

Father Nillo continued, “In the Philippines, most Masses in  urban areas are said in English. This is only the third Mass in Tagalog I have attended in my life. Even my own first Mass back home in the Philippines was celebrated in English.”

As in many cultures around the world, “Faith is very central to us Filipinos, it is always a part of us,” he said. “Everything we do, at work or home, includes faith.”

Congregants found joy in the expression of faith in the Filipino custom, and they called Father Enriquez’s homily on St. Lorenzo Ruiz “inspiring.”

“The choir, too, was so beautiful,” exclaimed Mary Valan, a member of the St. Michael Parish staff. “How genuine the Filipino priests are, and faith is very important to the Filipinos, and how tight their community is.”

“The singing was inspiring,” agreed John Teufel of St. Monica Parish. Married to a Filipino woman, Teufel continued, “My wife had shine in her eyes. I like to experience other cultures.”

Teresa Molino, also of St. Monica Parish, said, “It was inspiring to hear the Word of God in Tagalog. It is life itself. This is fulfilling because I remember going to Mass with my grandmother and grandfather in the Philippines. It makes me strong despite the trials I have experienced, and I get refreshed and strong in my faith.”

Video by Kyle Plumstead contributed to this report.