Dawn masses starts tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - Tomorrow marks the first day of the nine-day dawn masses for the Catholics, commonly known as "Simbang Gabi" or "Misa de Gallo."

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will celebrate the first dawn mass, or the "Mass of the Rooster," at the Archbishop's Chapel and the second dawn mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Tuesday.

He will celebrate the dawn mass at the San Pedro Calungsod templete at the South Road Properties on Dec. 20 and at the John Paul II retirement house on Dec. 23.  He will also hold dawn masses at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Dec. 23 and 31.

The start of the dawn masses has been a concern for some parishes, particularly towns and cities in the northern part of Cebu whose churches and chapels were destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda last Nov. 8.

On the other hand, some churches in southern Cebu were also damaged by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15.

Palma earlier said that he has instructed priests of calamity-affected parishes to prioritize safety of devotees. He said that if it is not secure to hold masses inside damaged churches, then the parish priests should find other ways, like holding masses outside the churches or in schools. 

The super typhoon damaged most of the churches in Daanbantayan town, which is among the most ravaged areas in northern Cebu.

In particular, the San Miguel church in Barangay Tapilon, San Isidore Labrador church in Barangay Maya, Sta. Rosa de Lima in Poblacion, and the Our Lady of Visitacion church in Barangay Bagay lost their roofs and their windows were broken.

Yolanda also damaged Medellin town's Assumption Parish in Barangay Tindog and the San Juan Nepomuceno church and convent in San Remigio town.

The Oct. 15 killer quake also damaged six southern Cebu churches along with the Basilica Minor del Sto. Niño, whose belfry collapsed, and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City.

Repairs have been made and church officials have assured that they have taken extra measures to assure the safety of churchgoers and that they are even already prepared for the activities related to the Sinulog in January.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Cebu recently turned over items needed in the holding of masses to the archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, which was greatly devastated by Yolanda.  (FREEMAN)