Filipino Catholics to celebrate dawn Mass with bishop

Catholic parishes with predominantly Filipino members will celebrate the customary Misa de Gallo at dawn each of the nine days preceding Christmas Day.

Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the Rooster,” is a tradition made popular in the Philippines for farmers and laborers who wanted to pray before the start of the workday. The liturgies, which include petitions for blessings — especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary — prepare Catholics for Christmas. The custom includes after-Mass fellowship over coffee, pastries and Filipino dishes.

Honolulu’s Bishop Larry Silva will serve as the main celebrant at certain dawn Masses, as well as at one evening event slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Mount church in Kalihi, with a liturgy titled “Misa de Aguinaldo.”

All other Masses will start at 5 a.m., except for a 4:30 a.m. Mass to be held at St. Joseph Church in Waipahu.

Silva’s schedule:

Thursday, St. John Apostle &Evangelist Church in Mililani; Friday, St. Joseph; Dec. 19, Immaculate Conception in Ewa; Dec. 20, St. Catherine in Kapaa, Kauai; Dec. 21, St. Theresa in Kekaha, Kauai; Dec. 22, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Kalihi; Dec. 23, St. Anthony in Kalihi; and Dec. 24, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pearl City.