Completing Advent Season and Simbang Gabi
Advent officially began at the 6 pm mass on December 1, the first Sunday of Advent. The mass was marked by the blessing of the Advent Wreath as well as the Prayer and Lighting of the 1st Advent Candle, led by the Leongson family, nominated by the Altar Servers Liturgical Ministry. For the rest of the December 1-2 weekend, the lighting of the Advent Candle were done by: Diwanihan Kristiyano’s Cruz family; LeCom Liturgical Ministry’s dela Llana family; Christian Family Movement’s Cruz family; EMHC’s Tecson family; Mustard Seed Ministry’s Dangel family; Knights of Columbus’ Tan family; Couples for Christ’s Uson family; LeCom Liturgical Ministry’s Reyes’ family, and Worship Ministry’s Alivarvar family.
Succeeding masses on all the succeeding Sundays of Advent – 2nd Sunday last December 8-9, 3rd Sunday last December 15-16, and the 4th and last Sunday of Advent on December 22-23 – were similarly marked by Prayer and Lighting of the Advent Candle by speciQied families, but without the initial blessing. The villages also had their own Advent masses and their own Advent candles for lighting.
As explained by Fr. Steve in one of his homilies, Advent is the four weeks of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The Advent season offers the opportunity for parishioners to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah. With each week as his Advent, or “coming,” draws nearer, another candle is lit, with each candle dispelling the darkness a little more. Thus, the Advent wreath helps to spiritually contemplate the great drama of salvation history that surrounds the birth of God Incarnate who comes to redeem mankind. After the 6 pm December 1 mass, Fr. Steve ofQiciated the blessing and lighting of the CTK Christmas Tree.
There is a lot of symbolism in the four candles of the wreath:
‣ The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope with the “Prophet’s Candle” reminding us that Jesus is coming.
‣ The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Faith with the “Bethlehem Candle” reminding the faithful of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
‣ The 3rd Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, symbolizes Joy with the “Shepherd’s Candle”, a reminder of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.
‣ The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolizes Peace with the “Angel’s Candle”, a reminder to the faithful of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Simbang Gabi, the long-treasured Philippine tradition of dawn masses for nine consecutive days, or novena, before Christmas Day, started last Saturday, December 15 with the 8 pm Misa Aguinaldo. It is one of the longest and most important religious celebrations in the Philippines that has lasted over 600 years. In the Spanish times, the masses were celebrated very early, usually at 4 in the morning, since they took place during the harvest season, when farmers had to be in the fields at the crack of dawn. At the first sound of dawn, at the crowing of the rooster, the entire family would get up and walk to the nearest parish church. The novena culminated on the ninth day, December 24, with the Mass of the Gifts, or Misa de Gallo – ‘gallo’ means rooster, in Spanish – which celebrates the birth of Jesus.
As before, CTK had two sets of Simbang Gabi, the pre-dawn masses at 5 am, which replaced the usual 6:00 am daily morning mass, from December 16 to 24, and the evening masses at 8 pm, from December 15 to 23. The evening Simbang Gabi presiders and offerors included:
– December 15: Fr. Je6 Villarin SJ with Acropolis as offerors
– December 16: Fr. Bong Tupino with Enclave and Ivory Court as offerors
– December 17: Fr. Eric Eusebio SJ with Corithian Gardens, Greenwich and Arcadia as offerors
– December 18: Fr. Pops Repole SJ with Corinthian Hills as offerors
– December 19: Fr. James Gascon SJ with Eton, Galleria, Crowne Plaza, and Poveda as offerors
– December 20: Bp. Honesto OngVoco DD with White Plains and WP Terraces as offerors
– December 21: Fr. Manoling Francisco SJ with St. IgnaVus as offerors
– December 22: Fr. Junjun Borres SJ with Libis as offerors
– December 23: Fr. Steve Zabala with Greenmeadows 1 & 3 as offerors
The morning Simbang Gabi presiders and offerors included:
– December 16: Fr. Steve Zabala with Ladies of Charity as offerors
– December 17: Fr. Domie de Guzman with Diwanihan Kristiyano Prayer Group as offerors
– December 18: Fr. Benny Tuason with Apostleship of Prayer and Adoracion Nocturna as offerors
– December 19: Fr. Joel Jason with Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus as offerors
– December 20: Fr. Herbie Santos with Legion of Mary and Buklod ng Panginoon as offerors
– December 21: Msgr. Dan Sta. Maria with Couples for Christ as offerors
– December 22: Fr. Steve Zabala with Mother Butler Mission Guild as offerors
– December 23: Bp. Honesto Ongtioco DD with Life in the Spirit-Healing Ministry and Knights of Columbus as offerors
– December 24: Fr. Arvie Bello with Christian Family Movement as offerors
Three Christmas Eve Vigil Masses on December 24th – 6 pm, 8 pm, and 10 pm – were scheduled at the Main Church, to include Blessing of the Belen and Veneration of the Image of Baby Jesus.
1. 6:00 pm, Youth Ministry & Mustard Seed Ministry as offerors, with Alumni Choir
2. 8:00 pm, Family & Life Ministry & Sunrise Ministry as offerors, with Couples for Christ Choir
3. 10:00 pm, Parish Pastoral Council as offerors, with CTK Youth Choir
