Churches in Manila to Visit for Simbang Gabi

9 Churches in Manila to Visit for Simbang Gabi

by The Click List

'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.]
--

Related Article

Visita Iglesia Itinerary: Seven Churches in Manila to Pray at This Holy Week
If you're planning to do your Visita Iglesia within Manila for Holy Week, you might want to put these seven beautiful and historical churches in your itineraries.