by Susan Palmes-Dennis
It's all systems go for the Simbang Gabi (Midnight mass) on December 11, Friday at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
In her Facebook post Lota Mascarenas, one of the members of the St. Thomas Aquinas choir posted the last music practice session of the choir done in the presence of St. Thomas choir director Tom Savoy last Monday.
“He is enjoying the playing of tagalog Christmas songs.” Mascarenas posted. The annual Simbang Gabi would start at 7 PM.
The Simbang Gabi at St. Thomas Catholic Church had been an annual staple for Fil-American Catholics in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. It is part of the Misa de Aguinaldo and Philippine tradition places the duration of the Mass from Dec. 16 until Dec. 24.
The Mass is held at 4 a.m in the Philippines. There is a well-known belief by Filipinos that a devotee who completed all nine days of the Simbang Gabi will be granted his or her request.
Mascarenas said this is the seventh year that Fil-American Catholics of St. Thomas will attend the midnight Mass which is a venerable Christmas tradition back in the Philippines.
Tom Savoy will be the musical director and he'll be assisted by Joie Arrojado and Sr. Zeny Mofada.
In my previous article, Mascarenas said the choir will be composed of Filipinos singing classic Filipino Christmas songs like Halina Jesus (Come, Jesus), Emmanuel, Tinapay na Buhay (Living Bread), Tanging Alay (Sole Dedication) and Sa Yo Lamang (Only for You) as well as Pasko Na (It's Christmas).
(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)
