The Papal Nuncio to Germany His Excellency Dr. Nikola Eterovic was the main celebrant for a special edition of the Simbang Gabi sa Berlin at the St. Johannes-Basilika on 20 December 2019. The mass was concelebrated by Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD, Head of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin. Nearly 200 Filipinos and other members of the international community attended the mass and Christmas Salu-Salo.

Readers and offerors from the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino Community and the Loved Flock Choir took part in the mass while an explanation of the Simbang Gabi tradition was given before the start of the mass by community member Ms. Gloria Lange. Before the end of the mass Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega gave a message of thanks.

In his homily, the Papal Nuncio cited the first-ever celebration of Simbang Gabi in the Vatican officiated by His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica and noted that the special tradition of the nine-day novena masses has now crossed international borders thanks to the strong faith and presence of Filipinos around the world.

The special Simbang Gabi mass was coordinated by the Philippine Embassy with the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin. As a gesture of appreciation, the community gifted the Nuncio with an image of the Santo Niño of Cebu. END