By Theresia Titus
More than a thousand parishioners have last month attended the annual Misa de Gallo at St Gerard Majella Catholic Church, Mirrabooka Parish from 16 December to 24 December.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrated one of the Masses, held on 19 December, and presented the second Apostolic Blessing certificate to the coordinator of Misa de Gallo in celebration of its 30 year anniversary.
The first certificate of the Apostolic Blessing was received in 2016, for the 27 year anniversary of Misa de Gallo at Mirrabooka.
Misa de Gallo, or ‘Dawn Mass’ or ‘Rooster Mass’, is a ritual of nine days of early morning Mass leading up to Christmas.
The celebration is deeply rooted in the Philippines and was introduced by the Spanish in the 16th Century.
At Mirrabooka Parish, the Mass starting time has been made to be more accommodating at 5.30am, compared to the original starting time of 4am in the Philipines.
Another version of the tradition, called Simbang Gabi, is celebrated in the evening at Notre Dame Catholic Church, Cloverdale Parish, from 15 to 23 December.
Recalling back to 30 years ago, Mirrabooka parishioner Carmel Hughes, who has been organising Misa de Gallo every year at the Parish, said it was former Parish Priest Fr Geoff Aldous who started Misa de Gallo at Mirrabooka in 1989.
There were only 10 people attending at the beginning of the journey.
“Although initially started by Filipinos in the Parish, it’s been attended by a diverse group of people and coming from different parishes,” Mrs Hughes said.
“Many nationalities attended the Masses.”
Mrs Hughes also recalled Bishop Sproxton encouraged her “to keep going” when he was appointed as Parish Priest at Mirrabooka Parish in 1993, despite all the difficulties she was facing to organise the event.
“That is why Bishop Sproxton celebrates one of the Masses every year on 17 December, as it is also his ordination anniversary,” Mrs Hughes said.
Mrs Hughes mentioned that there were more than 30 priests in Perth who have come and celebrated Misa de Gallo at the parish for the past 30 years.
Mrs Hughes explained that preparation starts in October every year, and that there are many things to be prepared, including searching and calling for priests who are willing to come early in the morning.
“Many people come to Misa de Gallo as they feel it is a tradition for them,” Mrs Hughes said.
“We served breakfast on the last day and many of the attendees took a day off in order to be able to stay longer after the Mass.”