Kuwait OFWs get taste of Pinoy life in Simbang Gabi

MANILA, Philippines - Some 800 Filipinos based in Kuwait had a brief taste of home life Monday when they braved cold winds to attend the first Simbang Gabi (dawn mass).

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website (www.cbcpnews.com) said Wednesday the Filipinos attended mass at the Holy Family Cathedral at 5:30 a.m.

It said the crowd, composed of professionals – engineers, architects, nurses, and dentists – high-skilled workers, drivers, and domestic helpers, filled the church, considered as the city's landmark of Roman Catholic faith.

Fr. Ruben Barrameda said the Simbang Gabi highlights the age-old tradition of preparing one's self for the coming Messiah.

In his homily, he said the Catholic faithful should heed the call of John the Baptist and "mend your ways for the coming of the Lord."

"Everyone is called for conversion, to take the chance and reciprocate God's love by going to confession in preparation for Christmas," he said.

He added the Filipino community should avail themselves of the Kumpisalang Bayan held since Tuesday till Wednesday.

Barrameda underscored the need for every devout Catholic to acknowledge one's sinfulness and be reconciled with God and the Church through the sacraments.

"If we truly love God, we will surely love our fellowmen," he said.

He said the occasion is also an appropriate manner of thanking the Blessed Virgin Mary for her dedication to serve as God's first tabernacle.

"We believe in the Mother of God who bore the Son of God, to make us feel loved," Fr. Barrameda said.

He added it is also an opportune time to remember there are at least 120,000 Filipino Catholics in Kuwait but few remained faithful churchgoers who adhere to the sacraments.

Ed Gonzales, a marine engineering graduate from Philippine Maritime Institute, said the number of Simbang Gabi attendees grew over the past five years.

"We had our first Simbang Gabi about five years ago and we realized it was too early to have it at 5:10 a.m. because Filipino nurses employed with the Ministry of Health were barred from leaving the premises earlier than 5 a.m.," Gonzales said.

He remains optimistic the churchgoers will increase over the next years as most Filipinos "feel closer to home when they attend the traditional Simbang Gabi."

Filipino pastor Fr. Wendell Pastoriza, who left the country in 1984, was the first to celebrate the Simbang Gabi in Kuwait. – GMANews.TV

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