By Helen Castaño | 06:38 AM December 16, 2021
Despite inclement weather, devotees attended masses at the Catholic churches in Bohol province for the start of the Misa de Gallo at 4 a. m. on Thursday, Dec. 16.
The Masses usually take place between 3 a. m. and 5 a. m. from December 16th to December 24th. Christmas Eve is marked with a special service called Misa de Gallo.
Bishop Abet Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran who celebrated the first Misa de Gallo at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral Shrine-Parish said the Filipino Christmas tradition goes on despite threats of Typhoon Odette as he called on the members of the Catholic flock to keep themselves safe.
Bishop Uy also urged the faithful to attend pre-dawn masses or Misa de Gallo online without sacrificing their safety in hopes to complete the nine-day mass.
In his homily, Bishop Uy encouraged parishioners to pray for the youth that they would continue the Filipino tradition of loving Jesus and Mary.
“Ang inyong pagsakripisyo magbunga sama sa usa ka suga nagsiga ug nagdasig sa mga tawo. Mahisama kang Hesus nga nagsaksi sa pagbuhat sa kabubut-on sa Diyos Amahan. Dili ikabylo sa mga kalibutan ug lumalabay lang. Ang gasa ni Hesus angay nga dawaton. Sundon arun makabaton kita sa kinabuhing dayun,” he said.
Misa de Gallo, which means Rooster’s Mass in Spanish, is a series of Catholic Masses in the Philippines during the nine days leading to Christmas. The concept is somewhat similar to early morning Masses leading to Christmas in Mexico’s Simbang Gabi and Puerto Rico’s Misa de Aguinaldo.
The 5:15 a. m. Mass followed, however, with fewer parishioners due to light rainshowers.
Typhoon Odette is expected to pass on Bohol on Thursday night or will make a
landfall this afternoon either in Eastern Visayas or Caraga region.
