8,000 pulis handa sa Simbang Gabi

Sa pagsisimula ngayong Linggo ng siyam na araw na Christmas tradition ng Simbang Gabi, ang pagdiriwang ay sumasalamin sa “the Filipinos’ strong faith in God”, ayon sa isang obispo.

“More than being an inherited custom and a cherished tradition, the Simbang Gabi is both an act of sacrifice and sharing which we do for the love of God and our neighbor,” ayon kay Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos.

“It is an act of sacrifice as mass goers forgo extra sleep and rest. We offer nine holy masses at the break of dawn. We pray more and fervently often in the company of our family and friends. Simbang Gabi leads us to spend extra time for God with our family and sacrifice personal comforts for God. Attending the masses is a clear manifestation of the Filipinos’ strong faith in God,” pahayag ni Santos.

Ibinahagi ni Santos, na namumuno sa Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCPECMI), na para sa mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) ang Simbang Gabi ay “a time for sharing”.

“Our OFWs observe the Simbang Gabi as a time for sharing. During the offertory in every mass, they offer gifts such as food and clothes for the needy in our parishes. In Kuwait, for example, our OFWs offer designated items to help distressed Filipino workers.

“Like last year, the offertory during the Simbang Gabi in Manama and Awali, Bahrain as well as from our churches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Tas Al Khaiman in UAE and in Doha, Qatar were generously offered to those who suffered from the previous natural calamities in the country,” ani Santos.

“Simbang Gabi reminds and makes us our brothers’ keepers and good Samaritans. It connects our OFWs with us. In foreign countries, especially as we have in Paris and Nice in France; Vienna in Austria; Bonn, Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany; and across Italy; the ‘Simbang Gabi’ mirrors our strong Catholic faith, our deep religious devotion and profound love of the Holy Eucharist,” dagdag pa ni Santos.

Katulad ng mga nagdaang taon, libu-libong Katoliko ang inaasahang dadalo sa unang araw ng Simbang Gabi sa iba’t ibang simbahan sa buong bansa ngayong Linggo.