Tag: Christmas

2nd annual diocesan Simbang Gabi draws nearly 1,500

The second annual diocesan Simbang Gabi drew an overflow crowd Sunday evening (Dec. 14) at St. Paul Catholic Church in Phoenix, as Bishop John Dolan celebrated the Mass that kicks off a nine-day series of novena Masses at six different parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix. Established in the 1600s, Simbang Gabi is a cherished Filipino Catholic Christmas tradition, consisting of a nine-day series of dawn Masses leading up to Christmas. It is one of the most vibrant and beloved expressions of Filipino faith and culture.

‘You won’t want to miss it:’ Simbang Gabi’s popularity prompts Diocese to move Mass to larger venue

An estimated 10,000 Filipino Catholics make their home in the Diocese of Phoenix. Many hold culturally rooted faith traditions close to their heart, perhaps none stronger than Simbang Gabi, a novena leading up to Christmas that recalls the nine months the Virgin Mary carried the Christ child before giving birth. Pronounced “sihm–BAHNG gah-BEE,” the celebration has been a staple of the season for Filipino Catholics across the world for hundreds of years and is part of the December calendar for a half dozen parishes in the diocese with Filipino populations. 

NEWS BRIEF: Bishop Dolan celebrates Las Posadas in Mexico with Kino Border Initiative

Hundreds of people joined Bishop John Dolan in Nogales, Mexico, on Saturday where they took part in the rich tradition of Las Posadas along the U.S.-Mexico border wall as part of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), a group comprised of six Catholic organizations whose vision is “Migration with Dignity.” The event was the 15th binational posada sponsored by four Catholic dioceses, including Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales and Sonora.

Las Posadas, which is widely celebrated in the Hispanic culture, commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Comprised of a procession that goes from one designated stop to the next, participants take part in the Holy Family’s experience of being told “there is no room for you in the inn” (Luke 2) in a unique way. At each of the five stops, passages of Scripture are read, and Christmas carols are sung.

Finding Hope on the Advent Journey

Things did not go as planned the first Christmas. Probably right around the time Mary and Joseph were settling in to wait for the arrival of their newborn baby, Ceasar Augustus announced that a census was taking place, and Joseph took Mary to the city of Bethlehem for their family to be enrolled. As we know, while they were there Mary went into labor and gave birth to the King of kings in a stable because there wasn’t room for them anywhere else.