• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Diocese of Bacolod has reminded the faithful that “all Aguinaldo Masses are celebrated only at the early hour of the morning, or at dawn, during the inclusive dates of Dec. 16 to 24”, and should not be replaced by evening masses.
In Circular Letter 2023-024 addressed to parish priests, parochial vicars, chaplains, rectors of churches, superiors of seminaries, institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, heads of schools and lay associations, and the Christian faithful, Bishop Patricio Buzon said evening masses during the season of Advent, from Dec. 15 to 24, “are considered as Advent Masses and are not to be confused with Aguinaldo Masses”.
Aguinaldo masses shall not be anticipated. Anticipated masses are only applied to Sundays and Solemnities and not to daily masses, he added.
“It has been a practice in the Diocese that all Aguinaldo Masses are celebrated only at the early hour of the morning…attributed to the ‘sacrificial spirit’ of the custom. It requires that priests and faithful exert effort out of great love to rise very early at dawn for nine days to await the coming of Jesus vigilantly. As such, all evening masses should not replace the traditional dawn masses but should be celebrated as Advent mass in violet vestments and without the singing or recitation of Gloria,” the bishop explained in the circular letter.
Two dawn masses, at 3:30 and at 5 a.m., will be offered at the San Sebastian Cathedral starting Dec. 16 until Christmas eve.
Buzon, meanwhile, said the Church will mark the National Youth Day on the first day of Simbang Gabi. “This celebration aims to strengthen their Catholic faith and affirm their role in the church. As a sign of our support, I request that a second collection be organized on this day in all masses.”
All collections should be forwarded to the Office of the Diocesan Oeconomus within 15 days. The sharing scheme for the special collection includes 35 percent to go to the parish or chaplaincy youth organization, 35 percent to the Diocesan Commission on Youth, and 30 percent to the Episcopal Commission on Youth, Buzon said. | CGC
