Bishop Silva at a 2015 Misa de Dallo (File photo)
Bishop Larry Silva will be up with the roosters in the final days of Advent to celebrate the popular Filipino tradition, Misa de Gallo, in eight parishes on Oahu and Kauai. He will also celebrate two pre-Christmas Simbang Gabi “night” Masses.
The Misa de Gallo, or Mass of the rooster, also called the Misa de Aguinaldo, or “gift” Mass, is customarily celebrated before dawn.
It comes from the practice in the Philippines of preparing for Christmas with a novena of Masses celebrated at an hour early enough for farm workers to attend before heading off to work.
Participants usually share a hearty breakfast afterward.
It is a tradition adopted by more and more parishes in Hawaii.
The Simbang Gabi, a similar Filipino pre-Christmas custom, is celebrated in the evening.
Here is the bishop’s Misa de Gallo schedule:
- Dec. 16, 5 a.m., St. Elizabeth, Aiea
- Dec. 17, 4:30 a.m., St. Joseph, Waipahu
- Dec. 19, 5 a.m., Holy Cross, Kalaheo
- Dec. 20, 5 a.m., St. Raphael, Koloa
- Dec. 21, 5 a.m., St. Theresa, Kekaha
- Dec. 22, 5 a.m., St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani
- Dec. 23, 5:30 a.m., Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu
- Dec. 24, 5 a.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City
Here is the bishop’s Simbang Gabi Mass schedule:
- Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., St. Roch, Kahuku
- Dec. 20, 6 p.m., Immaculate Conception, Lihue