Simbang Gabi 2013

Sa puso ng lahing Pilipino
Siyam na gabi kaming gumigising
Sa tugtog ng kampanang walang tigil

For the first time in its existence, Paaralang Pinoy sponsored a Simbang Gabi, the Filipino Advent Novena Mass in cooperation with the various communities of the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia and the Diocese of Arlington's Office of Multicultural Ministries.  It was a wonderful time to show our Fil-Am youth one of the enduring traditions that their parents have brought with them.

For our particular Mass, the Friends of BLD provided familiar Filipino hymns--nothing beats singing the Ama Namin, the Lord's Prayer in Tagalog!  One of our students proclaimed a reading in Tagalog, two of our young boys served in the Mass, and one of our PP families brought up the bread and wine.  Fr. Andrew Fisher, pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and former Director of Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC celebrated our Mass.

As folks walked out the door, they were serenaded with a medley of Filipino carols and handed a slice of bibingka for their drive home.  Our kids may not have had to wake up to church bells calling them to Mass at four o'clock in the morning but with a little bit of imagination, they were transported to a Catholic church somewhere in the Philippines for the familiar celebration that helped them prepare for Christmas.