By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

DAVIE | Eusie Velasco and his wife, Reggie, attended all nine Masses of the annual Simbang Gabi Filipino Christmas novena. The journey took them to nine churches from southwest Miami-Dade to northeast Broward.

“This is the sixth year that we have followed the nine-day Masses,” said Eusie who, along with his wife, carried the Filipino Apostolate banner into St. Bonaventure Church on the final night of the novena.

He said he will do the same novena for three more years as a promise he made to God after he had successful open-heart surgery in 2016. The Velascos met in the United States after emigrating from the Philippines. Eusie is from Batangas and Reggie is from Bohol, Philippines. Simbang Gabi has always been part of their traditional Christmas celebration.

The Misa de Gallo, or Mass of the “rooster,” was originally celebrated early in the morning because the rooster crows at the break of dawn when farmers started their workday. Some communities later changed the morning Mass to an evening Mass. In the Filipino tradition, worshippers carry “parols” — large, colorful, circular Christmas lanterns with stars in the center held on long poles. The candles symbolize the coming of Jesus Christ, said Eusie.

The nine churches participating in the novena were All Saints and St. Bernard in Sunrise; Mother of Our Redeemer, St. Kevin and Our Lady of Lourdes in Miami; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral; St. Maximillian Kolbe in Pembroke Pines; St. John XXIII in Miramar; and St. Bonaventure.

Each night had a different theme. The main theme was Gifted to Give, 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. Each night’s theme led off with the words Gifted: to Have Faith; Hope; Walk in Justice; Trust in God’s Love; Serve; Follow God’s Will; A Blessing; Proclaim God’s Greatness; and Be Messengers of the Good News.

Janet Macasero, archdiocesan coordinator of the Filipino Apostolate, thanked Archbishop Thomas Wenski for presiding at the final Simbang Gabi Mass and Father Edmond Prendergast, St. Bonaventure’s pastor, for hosting the Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado and Filipino priests serving in the archdiocese presided at the other Masses.

“Simbang Gabi has brought us together during challenging times,” said Macasero, who thanked all those who helped to make the event possible. “This is a meaningful way to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.”

In keeping with the night’s theme, the archbishop said in his homily that our gifts come from God.

“We should put these gifts at God’s disposal, so that our gifts can help us be messengers of good news,” he said.

“Maligayang Pasko,” he added, wishing the congregation a merry Christmas in Tagalog, the Filipino language.

Before Mass, violinists Oneng Edila and Tala Salao serenaded people entering St. Bonaventure Church in an effort to raise funds for victims of typhoon Odette, which recently struck the Philippines, killing more than 300.