4:15 AM Church Doors Open 5:00 AM Mass 5:50 AM Fellowship at the Courtyard 6:30 AM End of Fellowship
Officially called "Misa de Aguinaldo". There are nine days of masses at dawn (before daybreak) before Christmas day to offer thanksgiving to God for the gift of His Only Begotten Son, the Incarnate Word. Interchangeably "Misa de Gallo" (Mass of the Rooster) and "Simbang Gabi" are also used but originally both referred more to the Midnight Mass of the Nativity.
This practice originated in Spain in the 16th century and went to Mexico thence to the Philippines in the 17th century. (The Philippines was colonized and evangelized by Spain through Mexico). It became immensely popular in the past 400 years that it gained its own identity that defies the rubrics and spirit of Advent: festive mood with singing of the Gloria and the use of white vestments. Actually the "Misa Aguinaldo" are votive masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary asking for the intercession of the Mother of God for perseverance of the faithful and the preservation of the Catholic faith.
The Misa Aguinaldo was introduced in the Diocese of Honolulu more than two decades ago and the number or parishes offering it has increased through the years. It will be a quantum leap when the spirit of the Pre-Christmas dawn masses will be fully given here at Sts. Peter & Paul.
Aside from asking for perseverance and preservation of the Catholic faith, symbolically we can add that for nine days we accompany the Blessed Virgin Mary waiting for the celebration of the birth of her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, the true Sun that will never set. After all, the United States of America is under the patronage of Our Blessed Mother under her title as the Immaculate Conception and the titular of the Diocese of Honolulu is her title as Our Lady of Peace.