Father Ramon Owera, pastor of Circleville St. Joseph Church, and the Filipino Catholic Community in the diocese celebrated the Christmas tradition of Simbang Gabi for the 15th year.
The traditional Novena of Masses, also known as Misa de Gallo (Spanish for “Rooster’s Mass because they started as early morning Masses during Spanish colonial period in the Philippines), are celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and serve as a spiritual preparation for Christmas for Filipinos all over the world, with many devotees attending all nine Masses.
Columbus St. Josephine Bakhita Parish at St. Elizabeth served as the location for the nine Masses celebrated from Monday, Dec. 15 through Tuesday, Dec. 23. Fr. Owera was the main celebrant of the first eight Masses, at times joined by Father Anthony Davis, pastor of St. Josephine Bakhita, and Father Pius Ajuluchukwu, associate pastor at St. Joseph Bakhita, as concelebrants; and assisted by Deacon Jason Nguyen and Deacon Dean Racine.
As in previous years, local vendors were present after each Mass selling Filipino delicacies called kakanin for the attendees to enjoy. This added to the traditional feel of the experience of Simbang Gabi for many devotees.
Bishop Earl Fernandes joined the community as main celebrant for the last Mass on Dec. 23. Joining the bishop as concelebrants were Fathers Owera, Davis and Ajuluchukwu along with Fr. Tesfaye Petros Botachew, who serves as the diocesan director of multicultural ministry. Assisting in the Mass were Deacons Jason Nguyen and Dean Racine.
Miguel De La Torre, a diocesan seminarian at the Pontifical College Josephinum, served as the master of ceremonies. Another Columbus seminarian, Kevin Negaga, participated in the liturgy as an altar server along with Deacon-candidate Diep Bui, Orson Gariando, Alfin Rosario Maria Arockiaraj, Therese Nguyen and Louis Nguyen.
In his homily, Bishop Fernandes focused on the topics of promise of obedience and trust in God’s promise. His Excellency first pointed out that the star lanterns, called parol, adorning the church reminds the faithful of Jesus as the Light of the World. He then continued that just as priests make promises of respect and obedience to the bishop, “God also makes promises … and as the faithful Father, (God) keeps His promises. God sent His only begotten Son to be born for us, to redeem us, to save us.”
Bishop Fernandes reminded all that Jesus is the fulfillment of each of God’s promises, and if this is understood, everyone will have clarity regarding life and vocation, which is the path God has chosen for each person. Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph trusted the word of God, Bishop Fernandes encouraged those present to trust God. The bishop reminded all that Advent is the season to prepare hearts to trust God a little more.
In his closing remarks at the end of Mass, Bishop Fernandes said he would like to see vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life coming from the Filipino Catholic community. He also asked those present to pray for Latino brothers and sisters, many of whom were participating in Advent traditions such as Las Posadas.
After the Mass, Bishop Fernandes and approximately 250 attendees gathered in the Pastor’s Hall for a potluck-style dinner reception, where everyone enjoyed fellowship, an abundance of delicious dishes and desserts, and songs and dances performed by members of the Filipino community.
Father Owera, who serves as chaplain for the Filipino Catholic Community, expressed his gratitude for the 15 years of Simbang Gabi. Asked to reflect on the past 15 years, he fondly remembers how Simbang Gabi began in Columbus.
“I arrived in Columbus on March 7, 2011, and resided at Holy Cross along with Father Jerry Stuluka, who served as pastor. A few weeks after my arrival, I met Filipinos who have been longtime Columbus residents, including Ed and Girly Punzalan, who soon discussed with me the possibility of starting the celebration of Mass in Tagalog on the first Saturdays of the month.
“We started celebrating the Mass in Tagalog at Holy Cross in July 2011. It was in October 2011 that the Punzalans suggested that we start the celebration of Simbang Gabi. We discussed this with Odee Dammarell, who is very active and well-known in the Filipino community.”
The first Simbang Gabi was held at Holy Cross Church on December 15-23, 2011. The venue has changed through the years as Father Owera changed assignments and in order to accommodate the growing numbers of attendees. Finally, Simbang Gabi started being celebrated at St. Elizabeth in 2023.
As in the previous year, Father Owera and the Simbang Gabi committee (Rex Alba, Kaella Aliling, Ice Batino, Jewel Beriso, Jesse Cabungcal, Frances Horenstein, Joy Kouns-Lewis, Minda Li, Joy Polintan and Irene Sze) raised funds for a worthy cause. This year, the funds raised benefited the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (LIHM) Sisters serving in Portsmouth. Mother Assumpta Tangan, LIHM, who along with some of her fellow LIHM sisters traveled approximately 100 miles to attend the last Mass and the dinner, expressed her gratitude for the funds raised to assist them in their ministry.
“Having experienced the Simbang Gabi once again reminded me of the joyous preparation of Christmas in a cultural and religious way,” she said. “It has been a strong and effective way to bring families and communities together. We thank Fr. Ramon and the committee for their generosity and support to the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
In addition to promoting the Simbang Gabi tradition to generations of Filipinos, the Simbang Gabi committee also aims to share the beauty of this devotion to others in the diocese. Among those who attended for the first time was Maria Arockiaraj Pushparaj of the Tamil Catholic Community, who attended with his son Alfin Rosario.
“I was grateful to be invited … to the Simbang Gabi celebration hosted by the Filipino community,” he said. “ … it was truly a memorable evening. My son and I were both deeply moved by the beauty and reverence of the Holy Mass. The cultural program that followed was vibrant and heartfelt, showcasing the rich traditions and joyful spirit of the Filipino people.
“We enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino community and the delicious food at the dinner after the final Mass, making the entire celebration a wonderful experience of faith, culture and fellowship.”
Dr. Mauro Meruzzi, associate professor in the School of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum, and his wife, Ivana Quadrelli, who teaches at Columbus Bishop Hartley High School, have attended Simbang Gabi in Columbus the past two years. They first experienced Simbang Gabi while living in Australia and did not hesitate to participate when they found that it is celebrated by the Filipino Catholic Community in Columbus.
After attending the Masses and the dinner on the last night, Dr. Meruzzi reflected, “The atmosphere was a mixture of joy, fraternal communion, tradition, excellent food, hospitality, welcome, music and, above all, anticipation of the birth of the Savior. Interestingly, regarding the spiritual intensity of the experience, we didn’t notice any substantial difference between the Simbang Gabi celebration in Australia and Columbus. This demonstrates the strength of the tradition, which remains intact even in different places. … The sequence of the nine Masses in preparation for Christmas, despite its simplicity, conveys something more that is difficult to define.
“The Eucharistic celebration becomes the catalyst for an experience that involves the totality of the person. You can perceive the strength of the community. Joy and enthusiasm permeate everything. There is the joy of being together; everyone gives their best, even in their attire. But the real reason for the joy is the approaching Christmas. There is a sense of anticipation, trepidation and hope for a new life and for a spiritual renewal of the person, the community and the world.”
The Filipino Catholic Community is one of four ethnic communities celebrating Masses regularly at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. Filipino Catholics meet every first Wednesday of the month at St. Elizabeth, 6077 Sharon Woods Blvd., as a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The evening starts with praying of the Holy Rosary at 6 p.m. followed by the novena and Mass.
The community also gathers every first Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth for Mass celebrated in Tagalog, a language of the northern island of Luzon in the Philippines. All are invited to the Masses.
Eric V. Yang, Ph.D., is a parishioner of Columbus St. Peter Powell St. Joan of Arc and is an adjunct lecturer in the College of Liberal Arts at the Pontifical College Josephinum.
