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Papal Envoy Celebrates Simbang Gabi with Berlin Filipino Community

Berlin Mass 1Filipino community pose for a photo with the Papal Nuncio (center) (A. Malasig photo)

BERLIN 10 January 2020 — The Papal Nuncio to Germany Dr. Nikola Eterovic was the main celebrant for a special edition of Simbang Gabi sa Berlin at the St. Johannes-Basilika on 20 December 2019.

The mass, concelebrated by the Head of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD, was attended by around 200 Filipinos and other members of the international community attended the mass and Christmas salu-salo.

Embassy readers and offerors, the Filipino Community in Berlin, and Loved Flock Choir took part in the mass.

During the homily, the Papal Nuncio cited the first celebration of Simbang Gabi in the Vatican officiated by His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica. He noted that the special tradition of the nine-day novena masses has now crossed international borders, and thanked all the Filipinos around the world for their strong faith and presence. Also, the Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega gave a Christmas message before the concluding rites.

The special Simbang Gabi mass was coordinated by the Philippine Embassy, with the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin. As a gesture of appreciation, the community gifted the Nuncio with an image of the Santo Niño of Cebu. END

Berlin Mass 6Simbang Gabi sa Berlin on 20 December 2019. (A. Malasig photo)

Berlin Mass 2 The Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega (first row, fourth from left) and the Filipino community with the Papal Nuncio (third from right) during the Simbang Gabi sa Berlin on 20 December 2019. (Berlin PE photo)

Berlin Mass 5The Papal Nuncio (center) receives an image of Santo Niño of Cebu with the Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega (rightmost) and Head of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD. (Berlin PE photo)

For more information, visit  https://www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.philippine-embassy.de  or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.