One way to pack the pews is to host a Simbang Gabi Mass.
On Saturday, people filled church benches for the evening Mass at St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church in Indian Creek.
Simbang Gabi, a Filipino Christmas tradition, is celebrated annually in the Catholic community through Dec. 23, with each day having a theme. Masses began on Dec. 15.
For Saturday’s Mass in Indian Creek, the theme was, “Nostalgia – Longing for Home.”
Simbang Gabi is a nine-day novena to Mary, the Blessed Mother, celebrated by Masses typically at dawn by Filipino Catholics globally. Evening Masses are also offered.
“Simbang Gabi reminds us that the beauty of Christmas is found in trusting that the light shines in the darkness, and every challenge is an opportunity to anticipate that God is doing something new,” Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, said.
“As our Filipino brothers and sisters share this cherished tradition with the wider church, we are reminded that the birth of Christ draws people together in unity, joy and hope,” he added.
A reception was held after Mass in the Rev. John P. Finnegan Center at the parish.
A highlight was five children who portrayed angels during the Mass. The youngsters came from Mundelein, Gurnee and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Annette Liwanag of Vernon Hills served as St. Mary Simbang Gabi ministry coordinator.
“At St. Mary of Vernon, we follow a modified version of Simbang Gabi, which means ‘night Mass,’” Liwanag said. “Why is it important? For me, as an immigrant, it serves as a cultural and social connection for Filipinos living abroad.
”It connects us to home, culture and identity,” she continued. “It brings family and friends together in a festive atmosphere, where we serve specialty desserts like kakanin, share stories, give gifts and strengthen our bonds and sense of belonging.
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“Most Filipinos are Catholic, and our religious traditions play a significant role in our lives,” Liwanag added.
Liwanag said the Mass series serves as, “spiritual preparation and devotion, and I make it a point to attend masses at nine different churches. Every parish that I know of, as long as there are Filipino parishioners, celebrates Simbang Gabi.
Celebrating the Mass were the Rev. Ignatius Anaele, pastor of St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church, and the Rev. Radley Alcantara, associate pastor of Saint Clement Parish in Chicago.
Alcantara, a son of Filipino immigrants, has served at the Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest, St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan, and also as chaplain at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. Alcantara entered the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and was ordained by Cardinal Cupich in 2017.
Several Lake County parishes hosted Simbang Gabi Masses, including churches in Waukegan, Wadsworth, Round Lake, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Gurnee and Old Mill Creek.
“I think it’s great,” Alcantara said. “I think it helps, especially people who are immigrants, Filipinos, who have left the Philippines to stay connected to home.
“This helps us bring a little piece of home, helps us come together as a Filipino community, and to celebrate our traditions,” he said.
Anaele said, “It is very important because we have a large Filipino community here at the parish. And St. Mary of Vernon is becoming a multicultural parish, too. We celebrate diversity.”
According to the archdiocese, Simbang Gabi can be traced to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the Philippines.
The Filipino people celebrated pre-Christmas Masses before daybreak, known by the Spanish name “Misa de Gallo” or “Rooster Mass.”
Simbang Gabi precedes the Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve to usher in the birth of Jesus Christ.