WEST DUNDEE—The Fox Valley Filipino-American Catholic Ministry celebrated Simbang Gabi, the traditional Advent novena and nine evening Masses, in the Rockford Diocese, Dec. 15-23 at parishes in the Elgin, DeKalb, and McHenry Deaneries. 

 

Over 400 people attended the Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in  West Dundee Dec. 19.  

 

Accompanying the Mass was the Simbang Gabi choir made of members from St. Thomas More Parish, Elgin. The Filipino choir sang traditional English and Filipino Christmas songs at the Mass.

 

Other participating Fox Valley parishes are SS. Peter and Paul, Virgil; St. Margaret Mary, Algonquin; St. Mary, Huntley; St. John Neumann, St. Charles; Christ the Teacher University Parish, DeKalb; St. Patrick, St. Charles; St. Mary, Woodstock; and St. Lawrence, Elgin.

 

The Rockford Deanery also celebrates Simbang Gabi. The tradition traces back to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the P