Traditional Christmas novenas return in diocese
UTAH – Last year, the traditional diocesan Posadas and Simbang Gabi were canceled because of health and safety concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Posadas
Many parishes host the Posadas, gathering old and young to celebrate this Hispanic tradition that reenacts when Mary and Joseph sought shelter in Bethlehem and were turned away from the inn.
The Spanish word “posada” means “inn” or “shelter.” Posadas are held on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24. The nine nights are said to represent either the nine months that Jesus spent in Mary’s womb or the nine-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, each night is celebrated in a different parish or mission.
The celebration usually consists of a procession with candles and sometimes with individuals selected by the diocesan religious education teachers at the parishes and missions to play the parts of Mary and Joseph.
When the procession arrives at the doors of the place that is hosting the Posada, a special song is sung; the lyrics include “posada te piden estos peregrinos, que vienen cansados de andar ...” (“Inn, we ask you as pilgrims, we have come very tired.”)
Those outside the door sing the part of Joseph. Those inside the building respond as the innkeeper, saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally the innkeeper allows the Holy Family to enter.
Once inside, the participants usually kneel around a Nativity scene to pray the rosary and a series of praises for the Virgin Mary. They also sing traditional songs like “Holy Night.”
The entire celebration is in Spanish.
Traditionally after all the prayers comes a party for the children, who break piñatas filled with nuts, fruit and candy.
Simbang Gabi
The Simbang Gabi also is a novena of Masses celebrated in the nine days before Christmas, but it is a Filipino tradition. “Simbang Gabi” can be translated as “Night Mass;” in the Philippines, the Masses usually are celebrated at 4 a.m. However, because of the winter weather in Utah, the local Masses are scheduled in the evening.
The celebration of the Simbang Gabi “is above all an expression of the Filipinos’ filial devotion to Mary, the mother of God,” said Arlita Llenares prior to the 2019 event at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
This year, the Simbang Gabi novena theme is “Gifted to Give,” and celebrates the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
Each night of the novena the Mass will be celebrated at a different parish. This will be the 10th year that one of the Simbang Gabi Masses will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
The Simbang Gabi Mass often begins with members of the community, some in traditional Filipino clothing, carrying in parols (traditional star-shaped “lantern” ornaments that represent the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the magi to the place where Jesus lay in the manger). The parols then are hung alongside the pews or near the altar.
The Mass is usually celebrated in English and, depending on the priest, in Filipino.
Posadas Schedule
Thursday, Dec. 16: 7 p.m. Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Price. For information, call 435-637-1846.
Friday, Dec. 17: Santa Ana Mission, Tremonton. For information, call 435-723-2941.
Saturday, Dec. 18: St. Henry Catholic Church, Brigham City. For information, call 435-723-2941.
Sunday, Dec. 19: The Madeleine Cathedral of the Madeleine, 4:30 p.m. For information, call 801-966-5111.
St. Mary of the Assumption, in Park City. For information, call 435-649-9676.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, in Magna. For information, call 801-508-1595.
Monday, Dec. 20: St. Andrew Catholic Church, in Riverton. For information, call 801-544-4269.
Tuesday, Dec. 21: St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden. For information, call 801-399-5627.
Wednesday, Dec. 22: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church in Midvale. For information, call 801-255-3721.
Thursday, Dec. 23: For information, call the Hispanic Ministry 801-328-8641 ext. 332.
Friday, Dec. 24: All the parishes and missions around the diocese
Simbang Gabi Schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 15: 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 514 24th St., Ogden
Thursday, Dec. 16: 6 p.m. at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 276 East 170 South, Bountiful
Friday, Dec. 17: 6 p.m. St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5 South 100 West, Heber
Saturday, Dec. 18: 5 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, SLC
Sunday, Dec. 19: 3 p.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, 634 Caveman Blvd., American Fork
Monday, Dec. 20: 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 257 North 700 West, SLC
Tuesday, Dec. 21: 6 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4050 South 3900 West, West Haven
Wednesday, Dec. 22: 6 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1058 West 400 South, SLC
Thursday Dec. 23: 6 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 7405 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan
The Psako ng Bayan Christmas Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 25, at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 670 South 1100 East, SLC.
All the Masses are free and open to the public. However, in-person seating will be limited and social distancing and the wearing of face masks are encouraged.
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