Misa de Gallo: Pope blesses Perth tradition

30 Nov 2016

By Rachel Curry

(Back) Mirrabooka Parish Priest Father Giosue Marini, Pedro Acedo, John Taylor, Ronellie Lenon, (front) Allan and Carmel Hughes and Josie Scrutton celebrate receiving an Apostolic Blessing for the Misa de Gallo tradition. Photo: Rachel Curry

By Rachel Curry

A Filipino Advent tradition spanning 27 years in the Archdiocese of Perth has received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis.

Misa de Gallo (which translates to ‘Mass of the Rooster’) is a novena of early morning Masses held for nine days before Christmas, which was originally introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish in the 16th century.

Brought to Perth by a small group of Mirrabooka parishioners in 1989, the Misa de Gallo is now an annual tradition at the Mirrabooka Parish that brings together worshippers of all cultures, ages and parishes.

The Masses start at 5.30am – a slightly more palatable time than the 4am Masses traditionally held in the Philippines, which allowed farmers to participate in the devotion before tending to their fields – and a shared breakfast is held on the last day.

Carmel Hughes, who organises the Misa de Gallo at Mirrabooka, recalled that when she attended the Masses as a girl in the Philippines, she had to get up in the middle of the dark, cold night and walk 5km to her local Church.

“Something kept me going through that experience. I think it was my calling,” she said.

Buoyed by the encouragement of Father Geoff Aldous, who was then Parish Priest in Mirrabooka, Mrs Hughes started the tradition locally with the help of a small group of parishioners, including Genevieve Roth and Ronellie Lenon.

The Misa de Gallo Masses have since been celebrated by more than 35 priests of all nationalities, including Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who has been a strong supporter.

They have also expanded far beyond their original parishioner base, with Mrs Hughes joking that there were many years when the Filipinos were “outnumbered” by non-Filipinos in attendance.

While Mrs Hughes admitted she had experienced many stressful moments over the past 27 years, her efforts were recently rewarded when she and her fellow organisers received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis.

“Every year Carmel would say, ‘I don’t want to do it again’,” Mrs Lenon said.

“But this has been my home during Christmas preparation, so I’d say, ‘No, you’re not going to give it up’. Blessedly, miraculously it happens every year.”

Mirrabooka Parish Priest, Fr Giosue Marini, who has participated in the tradition for the past eight years, said his initial reaction when he found out about the early morning Masses was one of surprise.

However, the sight of so many people who wanted to start their day with prayer made him happy to be involved.

“It’s a good way to prepare for Christmas, because Jesus says in the Gospel, ‘Wake up from your slumber’. It’s a good way to make Jesus’ words reality,” he said.

 

The 2016 Misa de Gallo Masses will be held from 16 to 24 December at St Gerard Majella Church in Mirrabooka, starting at 5.30am. Everyone is welcome.

The Apostolic Blessing imparted by Pope Francis. Photo: Supplied

A Filipino Advent tradition spanning 27 years in the Archdiocese of Perth has received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis.

Misa de Gallo (which translates to ‘Mass of the Rooster’) is a novena of early morning Masses held for nine days before Christmas, which was originally introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish in the 16th century.

Brought to Perth by a small group of Mirrabooka parishioners in 1989, the Misa de Gallo is now an annual tradition at the Mirrabooka Parish that brings together worshippers of all cultures, ages and parishes.

The Masses start at 5.30am – a slightly more palatable time than the 4am Masses traditionally held in the Philippines, which allowed farmers to participate in the devotion before tending to their fields – and a shared breakfast is held on the last day.

Carmel Hughes, who organises the Misa de Gallo at Mirrabooka, recalled that when she attended the Masses as a girl in the Philippines, she had to get up in the middle of the dark, cold night and walk 5km to her local Church.

“Something kept me going through that experience. I think it was my calling,” she said.

Buoyed by the encouragement of Father Geoff Aldous, who was then Parish Priest in Mirrabooka, Mrs Hughes started the tradition locally with the help of a small group of parishioners, including Genevieve Roth and Ronellie Lenon.

The Misa de Gallo Masses have since been celebrated by more than 35 priests of all nationalities, including Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who has been a strong supporter.

They have also expanded far beyond their original parishioner base, with Mrs Hughes joking that there were many years when the Filipinos were “outnumbered” by non-Filipinos in attendance.

While Mrs Hughes admitted she had experienced many stressful moments over the past 27 years, her efforts were recently rewarded when she and her fellow organisers received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis.

“Every year Carmel would say, ‘I don’t want to do it again’,” Mrs Lenon said.

“But this has been my home during Christmas preparation, so I’d say, ‘No, you’re not going to give it up’. Blessedly, miraculously it happens every year.”

Mirrabooka Parish Priest, Fr Giosue Marini, who has participated in the tradition for the past eight years, said his initial reaction when he found out about the early morning Masses was one of surprise.

However, the sight of so many people who wanted to start their day with prayer made him happy to be involved.

“It’s a good way to prepare for Christmas, because Jesus says in the Gospel, ‘Wake up from your slumber’. It’s a good way to make Jesus’ words reality,” he said.

The 2016 Misa de Gallo Masses will be held from 16 to 24 December at St Gerard Majella Church in Mirrabooka, starting at 5.30am. Everyone is welcome.