Bishop Larry Silva celebrates Misa de Gallo at St. Anthony Church in Kalihi in 2011. (HCH file photo)
Many Island parishes will once again open their doors in the wee hours of the morning nine days before Dec. 25 for “Misa de Gallo,” the festive Filipino tradition of Advent-tide dawn Masses.
Bishop Larry Silva is scheduled to join the early-rising faithful as the main celebrant at eight Misa de Gallo liturgies on Oahu and Kauai:
- Dec. 17: St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church, Mililani
- Dec. 18: St. Joseph Church, Waipahu
- Dec. 19: Immaculate Conception Church, Ewa
- Dec. 20: St. Catherine Church, Kapaa
- Dec. 21: St. Theresa Church, Kekaha
- Dec. 22: Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu
- Dec. 23: St. Anthony Church, Kalihi
- Dec. 24: Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Pearl City
The Mass at St. Joseph, Waipahu, starts at 4:30 a.m. All of the other liturgies begin at 5 a.m.
Bishop Silva is also slated to celebrate a 6:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 17 at Our Lady of the Mount Church in Kalihi Valley. This liturgy, called “Misa de Aguinaldo,” is an evening variant of Misa de Gallo.
Translated as “Mass of the Rooster,” Misa de Gallo is a custom made popular in the Philippines for farmers and laborers seeking to pray before the start of the workday. The liturgies prepare Catholics for Christmas with nine days of praise and petitions, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, for blessings.
Misa de Gallo includes fellowship over breakfast as well. Local parishes often serve coffee, pastries, Filipino dishes and other tasty treats after the dawn Masses.
“Misa de Aguinaldo,” which means “Mass of the Gift,” is a term used for Masses celebrated the nine days before Christmas, but not at daybreak. Some Island churches have opted to schedule Misa de Aguinaldo liturgies to accommodate Catholics who are unable to attend morning Masses.