Written by: Angelita Felixberto
From its early beginnings in 2000, with nine parishes starting the celebration of Simbang Gabi, it has now grown into 35 parishes joining the celebrations in 2014, proudly announced by Ed Tiong in his acknowledgment closing in the final night of Simbang Gabi 2014. Ed Tiong and the Diocese of Arlington’s Filipino American Ministry of Northern Virginia Council have been a few of the pioneers leading the promotion and preserving the Catholic Filipino faith and cultural traditions in the Northern Virginia and metropolitan Washington, DC area.
The Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia was born in the early part of the year 2000 when the Diocese of Arlington held a town hall meeting called “Encuentro 2000.” It brought together various diverse groups of ethnic Catholic communities consisting of the African-America, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Hispanics, European and Vietnamese in Northern Virginia to facilitate expression of their hopes and dreams for a stronger Catholic community. The Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia is an offspring of the “Encuentro 2000.” Three pioneering couples planted the seeds for the ministry, Ricel and Elvie Castro, Felipe and Rowena Averia and Ed and Maricor Tiong. The very first project was a retreat led by the musician Jesuit priest, Fr. Manoling Francisco. A leadership formation program ensued with the assistance of Cecile Motus, then coordinator of the Asian Pacific Ministry of the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees from the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB.) The initial core group added Jes and Nori Ces of “Tahanan ng Panginoon,” Neneng Riguera and Celia Coronado of the Philippine Medical Mission of St. Charles Borromeo in Arlington, Max Gonzales of “El Shaddai.” The Simbang Gabi 2000 begun, a Filipino tradition of nine-day novena Masses celebrating the Advent season in anticipation of the birth of Christ. Most people who attend the novena Masses have a prayerful petition in mind which serves as a motivation in completing the nine day-novena. In the Philippines, the tradition is celebrated by dawn Masses either at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, followed with an early breakfast of sumptuous Filipino rice or cassava delicacies that marks the celebration such as “puto-bumbong, bibingka” to include other stomach-warming dishes.
The theme of the Diocese of Arlington’s Simbang Gabi 2014 was “Love is our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.” 
The theme is in line with the preparation for the 2015 World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 22-27, 2015 to be led by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the 8th World Meeting of Families. The event seeks to “strengthen the sacred bonds of the family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society.” (Filipino Ministry Catholicweb.com). In 2003, the World meeting of families was held in Manila and was then led by now St. Pope John Paul II.
The various parishes that joined Simbang Gabi 2014 included St. Michael and Holy Spirit in Annandale, Christ the Redeemer in Sterling, Queen of Apostles in Alexandria, St. Philip and St. Anthony of Padua in Falls Church, St. John the Apostle in Leesburg, Church of the Nativity in Burke, All Saints in Manassas, Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, St. Veronica and St. Timothy in Chantilly, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna, St, Mary of Sorrows and St. Leo in Fairfax. St. Bernadette in Springfield, St. Theresa in Ashburn, and Holy Family in Dale City. The final advent novena Mass was held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (Alexandria) celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Loverde, himself. The final Mass was dedicated as a “Call to Filipino American Youth, Families and Community.”
Aside from the various parishes, the complete nine-day novena Masses were also celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, coordinated by the Roa and Sunga families. The Filipino Catholic Ministry of Northern Virginia coordinated with the Diocese of Arlington Office of Multicultural Ministries, directed by Corinne Monogue and assisted by Liz Tauke. Claireen Enciso was highly instrumental in coordinating the number of Filipino parish volunteer coordinators in bringing to life Simbang Gabi 2014.
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Angelita F. Felixberto is a blogger, freelance writer and news correspondent with GMA7 Network in the Philippines. Her blog is “The Catalyst Writer” at www.thecatalystwriter.com. She can be reached at bootsfelixberto@gmail.com.
Praise the Lord my sisters and brothers for we serve a God full of Mercy and Grace! My name is KaIyah Allison. I have been blessed and humbled to have a Prison Ministry since October 2007. God spoke to me and out of obedience I answered the call. Each time I go to the women’s prison division I am overjoyed! The women have received me with open hearts. I often tell them what a blessing they are to me. During our time together we have praise and worship, readings from the word of God and time for sharing what’s on your heart, whether it be a testimony of God’s goodness in their life or just to have someone to listen to them and encourage them. The women are my sisters and I am grateful to God for choosing me for such a ministry as this! I always tell my sisters this is a journey we will take together. It’s such a powerful thing to see God move in a mighty way while we are together. There have been many occasions where my sisters come in and you can instantly feel the heaviness in the room, but as we begin to worship The Lord moves and lightens the heavy burdens they came in with. To hear them say, “Thank you for coming, I am so glad you came!” I give God All the Glory, it’s by his power alone that together we can bind up every chain the enemy tries to put us in.
United Through Diversity: One in Christ 