16 December – As a crescendo towards Christmas Day, the Filipinos in Frankfurt, joined online by Filipinos in Wiesbaden, Wetzlar, Limburg and Bad Homburg, began the traditional Christmas dawn masses that will run for nine days, culminating on December 25.
These Christmas dawn masses – Simbang Gabi – manifest the strong religious roots and spirit of the holiday season for Filipinos.
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt led by newly-arrived Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos sponsored the first of the series of masses at St. Ignatius Church in the heart of Frankfurt. The event also marked the first time for the Consul General to meet with members of the Filipino community in Frankfurt. She was welcomed by Filipino chaplain, Father Francis Ofrancia.
With the mass respecting health protocols, Consul General Banzon Abalos highlighted how Filipinos, both in the Philippines and in Germany, have shown throughout the pandemic, the willingness to bear personal discomfort for the sake of public health and the collective good.
This year’s mass collections will be used to support the computer project of St. Nicholas Catholic School in Anda, Pangasinan. END