MISA DE GALLO IN SCARBOROUGH

By Rene Calalang
Scarborough-Canada
January 16, 2016



On the evening of December 24, 2015, the Filipino Community of Highland Creek and the surrounding communities celebrated their annual Misa de Gallo at Saint Joseph Church, located at 200 Morris Rd. in Scarborough.

It was held after the completion of the nine days Simbang Gabi (night masses) or novena, and is always the biggest and the most well attended.

It was organized and led by Koro Pilipino, a group of Filipino men and women dedicated in providing the community a mass in Filipino,

It was a celebration of Catholic faith, where worshippers in all ages and a few from a different nationality came to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

To most Filipinos who attended, it was a continuation of a Filipino tradition, as this is a mass normally celebrated by Catholic Filipinos in the Philippines.

It was also a family affair, a family togetherness - a time where because of changing priorities, togetherness seems not to be a priority anymore. Many families came as a unit. Some parents came with their small children in tow. Grandparents and adult children came too.

The mass started half an hour earlier so that Koro Pilipino would be able to do their caroling with Pilipino Christmas songs. The worshippers, perhaps touched with the beautiful beat and rhythm of the songs, sung with the choir. And it was such a hearth touching moment to see.

At the end, it was an affair which, just like the previous years, a big success. It was also both a joyous and meaningful affair, and an evening to remember.