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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Churches in Manila to Visit for Simbang Gabi

9 Churches in Manila to Visit for Simbang Gabi

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'Simbang Gabi' (Night Mass) is a Christmas tradition of hearing mass for nine consecutive days, December 16 to December 24, and is widely practiced in the country by the Catholics. Also called 'Misa de Gallo' (Spanish for 'Rooster's Mass'), Simbang Gabi is traditionally held as a novena of dawn Masses, but Churches also have anticipated Masses held during the previous night.

This tradition traces back during the Spanish era as dawn Masses for the farmers before they begin their work early in the morning. Now, almost every Church (if not all) in Manila that celebrate Simbang Gabi have food stalls awaiting hungry parishioners after celebrating Mass--Christmas favorites such as puto bumbong and bibingka are made fresh and served hot, paired best with hot coffee and tsokolate. Another tradition practiced by many parishioners is to make a wish after completing all nine days of Simbang Gabi.

Christmas staples: Puto bumbong and bibingka
This Christmas season, devote your nine days of Masses in Manila's most beautiful Churches. Why not try something different and visit a new Church for Misa de Gallo instead of your usual Church in the neighborhood? Here are 9 beautiful Churches in Manila to choose from, and their available schedules for Simbang Gabi (anticipated mass) and Misa de Gallo (dawn mass).

1. Basilica Minore de San Sebastian / San Sebastian Church
(Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila)
Call 734-8931

Photo from Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica Website
2. Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
(Cabildo cor. Beaterio, Intramuros)
2014 Schedule: Misa de Gallo at 4:30am, Simbang Gabi at 8:30pm

3. Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz / Binondo Church
(Binondo, Manila)
2014 Schedule: Misa de Gallo at 4:30am, Simbang Gabi at 9pm

4. Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene / Quiapo Church
(Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila)
2014 Schedule: Misa de Gallo at 4am and 5am, Simbang Gabi at 9pm

Photo from Saint Jude Parish website
5. National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus / Saint Jude Parish
(JP Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila)
Call 735-6408

Photo from Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church Website
6. Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church / Guadalupe Church
(Bernardino Street, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati)
2014 Schedule: Simbang Gabi at 9pm, Misa de Gallo at 4:30 am

7. San Agustin Church
(Gen. Luna Street, Intramuros)
2014 Schedule: Misa de Gallo at 4am

8. Sta. Cruz Parish
(Santa Cruz, Manila)
Call 733-0245, 733-0246

Photo from Ateneo de Manila University website
9. The Church of the Gesù
(Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City)
2014 Schedule: Simbang Gabi at 8:30pm

[NOTE: Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.]
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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Never been to Binondo Church and hoping to go there very soon. My friend said it's a perfet church for a wedding too. :)

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