MERRILLVILLE – A tradition of pilgrimage and light was renewed again for Filipino faithful who marked the end of a novena and the beginning of Christmastime with Simbang Gabi, celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation on Dec. 17.
Simbang Gabi or “Night Mass” is a centuries-old tradition in the Philippines, Asia’s only predominantly Catholic country. There, believers young and old continue various devotions until the night before Christmas (or early pre-dawn hours), when citizens process to their parishes in festive fashion.
Behind colourful lanterns fashioned to represent stars, pilgrims arrive at churches and town centers – just like Magi following the celestial sign. In Our Lady of Consolation, paroles, traditionally used to light processions, were placed near the sanctuary radiating light to congregants.
In OLC’s Vamos Hall, families dined while some gathered on the disc jockey’s stage where they sang classic and modern Christmas songs.
Rene and Nini Alcantara of Nativity of Our Savior parish in Portage spoke over a traditional Filipino meal. Eating adobo, or pork with quail eggs, and pancit, or noodles and vegetables, the couple stopped to recall family customs of their native country.
“In our country when you wake up in the morning on Christmas Day you go to Mass – if you did not go to the Midnight Mass – then our parents bring us to the homes of our relatives … we go from house to house and get their blessings. Then they gave us gifts or money," explained Nini Alcantara, who along with her husband are U.S. citizens originally from Manila.
“In the Philippines, Christmas (celebrations) are mostly for the kids … and we have the longest Christmas season, which starts in September with decorations and playing Christmas songs," said Rene Alcantara of Catholic cultural expression in the Philippines.
One of the Alcantara's’ children was ordained a priest in 2017. Father Radley Alcantara serves in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
During Advent and Christmastime, expressions of faith from a variety of cultures abound in the diocese – from the Hispanic Posadas recreating the journey of the Holy Family to the manger, to the Polish Wigilia, or Christmas Eve meals and traditions. Presider Bishop Robert J. McClory said it was a joy to see the expressions of many heritages.
Bishop McClory, seeing the paroles displayed, compared the colorful lanterns that lit the spirited gathering to the biblical journey of the Magi.
"Just as the wise men followed the star, these signs of light are signs of being pointed in the right direction, being pointed to Jesus himself," Bishop McClory said.
During Mass, the Laus Family were key contributors to the liturgical music, along with members of the Asian Ministry Choir. On Christmas vacation from college in Nashville, Chaela Laus joined Neil Soriano as a cantor. Chaela’s parents Chito and Sheila Laus each played an acoustic guitar during the musical numbers.
“As a music student I actually just finished a research paper on Simbang Gabi,” said Chaela Laus. “I meet new people ... all of us try to bring our culture to Vanderbilt (University) and a lot of times they get shared and spread.”
Brendan Herr of Crown Point who is dating Chaela Laus, joined in the Mass and family caroling that followed. Raised as a Methodist he said OLC offers “a great experience, a great fellowship.”
“I love being here,” said Herr. “The Laus family has taken me in, and I love the musical heart of OLC.”
Children of the Partain Family of St. Edward in Lowell, friends of event coordinator Perla Garcia, were among those who processed into the church holding ornamental stars before themselves. Mike Laus, Chaela Laus’ brother, pointed out that such stars and the paroles displayed in Church, “are to Filipinos as synonymous with Christmas as a Christmas tree.”
Mike Laus, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated with his family to the United States when he was two years old, called the Simbang Gabi events in Merrillville, “a taste of home.”
In the church, songs in English and Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines, started with the “Misa de Gallo” prelude. That first number, Spanish for “Mass of the Rooster,” is an ode to how the cock crows to signal the beginning of the earliest Christmas Masses. Such songs have been a part of the culture of the islands since the Spanish brought the faith, starting in 1521.
The recessional hymn, concluding the liturgy was “Pasko Na Naman,” sung in Tagalog. The song’s title, “It’s Christmas Again,” suggested a celebratory tone. “O time surely flies/It has been a while since Christmas passed by/Now it’s Christmas … We should give thanks, let’s sing Christmas songs.”
After assisting at the Simbang Gabi liturgy, Deacon Napoleon Tabion recounted his personal journey of faithful, yet reserved service to the Church that took a more prominent role once he was ordained a deacon by then-Bishop Dale J. Melczek in 2000.
Growing up in the Philippines, the deacon, who presently serves at St. Thomas More in Munster, said his parents encouraged him in the faith, but shied away from sending him to seminary. Fast-forward to a dinner with his wife Lynn Tabion and Bishop Emeritus of Lansing Carl F. Mengeling, then pastor of St. Thomas More, the future deacon said he expressed his interest in the diaconate and received encouragement from the priest.
“I’m happier now doing my diaconal duties better than practicing medicine,” said Deacon Tabion, a retired urologist. “The medical practice is a preparation for you to do pastoral work; the connection is healing.”
Deacon Tabion looked around the hall filled with people of Filipino heritage of all ages, and said such gatherings help keep the Catholic faith alive.
“I feel happy and encouraged because a lot of these kids come to church, they go to Mass and they practice their faith,” Deacon Tabion said. “I think it is because they have good parents who instilled this.”
The Simbang Gabi events were sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Ministry, Missionary Families of Christ, FilAm Community, Philippine Nurses, and Philippine Professional Association, Inc.