Dubai’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church witnessed an extraordinary display of cultural and religious devotion as over 20,000 expatriates gathered for the inaugural day of Simbang Gabi on Monday. This cherished Filipino Christmas tradition, dating back to the Spanish colonial period of the 1600s, has found a vibrant new home in the UAE since its introduction by the Filipino Catholic community in the early 2000s.
The evening mass transformed the church grounds into a spectacular celebration of faith and community. Unlike its dawn observance in the Philippines, the UAE adaptation occurs in the evening to accommodate working schedules. The atmosphere buzzed with festive energy as generations of worshippers—from elderly community members to infants in strollers—gathered in the open-air setting. Many attendees arrived directly from their workplaces, while families and friends brought folding chairs and mats to create comfortable seating areas.
The celebration featured traditional Christmas carols preceding each service, with volunteers like Dubai resident Mark Omayam adding to the merriment by distributing gifts to children while dressed in Santa Claus costumes. The authentic Filipino experience was completed with traditional delicacies including puto bumbong (steamed rice pastry) and bibingka (rice cake) available in the churchyard.
Church worker Policarpio Tinaja described the event as embodying both spiritual significance and communal joy. The special outdoor altar, constructed annually for this purpose, accommodated the massive congregation that filled the football field, basketball court, girls’ compound, and church portico.
This year’s celebrations carry the theme ‘Pasko sa Jubileo 2025’, aligning with the Catholic Church’s jubilee year. Monday’s mass was presided over by Filipino priest Fr. Leny Escalada with co-celebrant Fr. Rex Cutamora. The nine-day observance will continue through December 23, with Tuesday’s service featuring Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and titular bishop of Albano.