Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, Three Decades of Tradition for the Fil-Am Community in New York
Consul General in New York Claro S. Cristobal and Mrs. Marilou Cristobal (5th and 6th from L) join Father Patrick Longalong (center) and Filipino Community leaders in the Tri-State area in the traditional photo opportunity after the celebration of the Holy Mass. (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 25 December 2018 — The Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York from 06 to 14 December 2018 continued to attract significant attendance by Filipino-Americans in the Tri-State area.
This year, more than 70 Filipino-American Community organizations joined in co-sponsoring each night of the nine-day Christmas masses. The presence of a number of younger generation Fililipino-Americans each night, with a group of them expressing interest to co-sponsor at the next year’s Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, made the tradition even remarkable and vibrant.
Father Patrick Longalong, a Filipino-American priest based in the Diocese of Brooklyn and the spiritual director of the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, officiated the opening of the Simbang Gabi, while Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio Bernadito C. Auza of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations concelebrated the last mass.
Other Filipino priests who celebrated during the nine nights were: Fr. Victor Arenas, Fr. Julian Jugadilla, Father Sebastian Bacatan, Father Adolfo Novia, Father Roy Regazpi and Father Jay Caganap. Choirs and cantors provided music throughout the nine-day novena mass.
For the first time this year, a daily parol blessing and lighting ceremony prior to the mass were held the Lobby Center. The nine parols which were prepared by sponsoring organizations representented nine “Diwa ng Pasko” namely Kapayapaan, Pagkakaisa, Pagmamahalan, Pamilya, Pakikipagkapwa-tao, Kasaganaan, Pagpapatawad, Pasasalamat, at Pananampalataya.
A brief program filled with Christmas raffle and salu-salo followed the mass. An economy ticket to the Philippines sponsored by the Philippine Airlines was raffled during the last salu-salo.
The co-sponsoring partners also donated the net collections from the mass to Handang Tumulong Foundation, Inc. (HTFI) amounting to US$ 2,000.12 for charitable projects. HTFI was the recipient chosen by the sponsoring organization this year.
In his welcome remarks during the first night, Consul General to New York Claro S. Cristobal thanked all the officiating clergy, sponsoring organizations, volunteers, and participants for making the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado a part of their calendar of activity every December.
The Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado started in 1986, and has been the venue of the Filipino Community organizations to come together for the celebration of Filipino Christmas. The Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado reaffirms the community’s re-connection with Filipino culture and heritage through this unique Filipino Christmas tradition. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/
The Most Reverend Bernardito C. Auza, Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the United Nations, blesses the parol during the parol lighting ceremony on the final night of the Simbang Gabi. Archbishop Auza also concelebrated the holy mass following the lighting. (New York PCG photo)
Top left photo: Father Julian Jagudilla blesses the baby Jesus during the turnover of the figurine to the next day’s sponsor, a daily ceremony during the nine nights of the Simbang Gabi. Top right photo: The last night was opened by a re-enactment of the nativity scene. Bottom photo: Father Jay Caganap celebrates the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, which was held every evening at the Philippine Center from 06 to 14 December 2018. (New York PCG photo)