Catholic faithful start Simbang Gabi

Hundreds of Filipino Catholics on Saipan flocked to churches as they began the longstanding tradition of Simbang Gabi or dawn mass as part of their Christmas celebration.

Mount Carmel Cathedral was full to capacity early Friday morning as throngs of those who believe that their wishes will be fulfilled if they attend the dawn masses for nine days or up until Christmas Eve.

The first few days are the ones that see the most number of attendees, said Saipan Simbang Gabi Group president Mar Pacson.

The turnout of the first dawn mass, Pacson said, is a testament that many Filipinos and the rest of Catholic faithful still depend profoundly on their belief in God.

“Despite the challenging situation in the CNMI, given the fact that there are a lot of Filipinos who have been put to the test due to immigration issues, many of us turn to God for help,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Reasons for hearing these dawn masses vary from one person to another. For labor representative Carmelina Velasquez, her wish is “to have peace more than anything else.”

Velasquez, who has been attending dawn masses for the second consecutive year, said her wish for peace encompasses not just her own family but everybody in the community.

“For my own family and myself, I wish for good health and peace of mind,” she said.

Former UFO president Olive Yana, for her part, said she tries as much as she can to complete all of nine dawn masses.

Her wish, Yana said, is for good life for all foreign workers in the Commonwealth.

“I really hope that we get a status that all longtime foreign workers in the CNMI deserve. After giving our best years for this island which has become our second home, I wish that we receive what is due us,” said Yana.

According to Yana, dawn masses bring the message of hope for all those who believe.

“It is with hope that we await and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,” she added.

SSGG school building project

This message of hope rings true for another town which the Saipan Simbang Gabi Group intends to help this 2012.

Saipan Simbang Gabi Group is a non-profit corporation created to start the Christmas tradition as well as address classroom shortage in the Philippines by raising more funds during the holidays to build more classrooms for public schools.

Pacson said that for next year, they are targeting to build a two-storey school building in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.

Given the economic situation in the islands, however, Pacson said their group won’t be as persistent in their dawn mass collections which used to augment the needed funds for the project.

He said the dawn masses’ second collections this year will be donated to the church and be used to buy their needed supplies.

Pacson said they will just rely on their usual sponsors and donors who have supported the program through the years.

He also thanked the members of the Saipan Simbang Gabi Group, coordinators and other volunteers who have also worked hard to set up the nativity at Mount Carmel during the first week of December.