MANILA, Dec. 17, 2009─With the onset of the traditional dawn masses or “simbang gabi”, editors of a Catholic journal would like to remind young people of the religious dimension of the celebrations.

“Simbang Gabi is for worship, not for courtship,” the editors said as they noted the penchant of young people to congregate with their peers or their loved ones outside the Church while the “Simbang Gabi” is being celebrated.

Fr. Gerry Patio and his associate editors at the Theological Centrum Documentation Service, a publication that tackles Catholic faith and morals, have dedicated two of its monthly issues on the topics of Advent and Christmas in an effort to evangelize popular traditions as the “Simbang Gabi.”

Popular tradition

“Simbang Gabi” has become one of the most popular religious traditions in the country. The traditional Aguinaldo Masses, a nine-day novena in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, begins December 16 as early as 4:00 o’clock in the morning, and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus’ Birth.

There has been a noted increase in Church attendance of “Simbang Gabi” this time than in recent years. Some churches now hold two or three dawn masses and anticipated “Simbang Gabi” Mass to accommodate the request of parishioners. Priests said many of the people filling up the church during “Simbang Gabi” are not regular Sunday mass goers.

But the “Simbang Gabi” is not just a tradition that is celebrated because many others do so. It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members, or among friends, but also because it is the time where our faith is intensified.

National Youth Day

Despite the popularity of the “Simbang Gabi”, many still do not know that the start of the Christmas novena, December 16, is National Youth Day. During this day the Church in the Philippines celebrates the presence of the youth in the Church and encourages all the faithful to support the apostolate with young people.

Collections on all Masses on December 16 are directed towards youth ministry. The money collected is submitted to the local bishop within 15 days and divided accordingly: 70% to the Diocesan Youth Ministry, and 30% to the Episcopal Commission on Youth.

The collection is only a concrete gesture of the Church in her maternal care for the “future of the Church”, as John Paul II fondly called young people during his Pontificate.

While they participate in the “Simbang Gabi”, the youth can find special significance from the messages directed to them by the bishops in the recent Asian Youth Day in Imus.

“The coming together of young people is always a great event of the church, as time of faith, life and love,” Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said.

For his part, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo encouraged the youth, as they gather together, not simply to celebrate their faith with peers, but strengthen their commitment to Christ.

Bishop Joel Baylon, Chair of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth said that the gathering of young people is expected to provoke some renewal among them so that they become agents of transformation by living out the Word and the Eucharist in the Asian realities. (Fr. Mickey Cardenas)