POPE FRANCIS’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO LEAD ANNUAL FILIPINO CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AT ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the United Nations, Will Celebrate Traditional Sinbang Gabi Mass on Sunday, December 17 at 5:00 PM PASADENA, CA, December 11, 2017—St. Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena will hold its annual Simbang Gabi Mass on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 5:00 p.m., celebrated by Archbishop Bernardito Auza. A banquet, presented by the Filipino-American Ministry of St. Andrew Catholic Church, will follow the Mass. Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition that is sometimes referred to in Spanish ass Misa de Gallo, or "Mass of the Rooster” because it was traditionally held in the pre-dawn hours to allow congregants to attend Mass before beginning their day’s labors. Today, Sinbang Gabi remains a beloved Christmas celebration among Filipino Catholics, but it is now celebrated at different times of the day to accommodate the needs of local parishioners. Rev. Paul Sustayta, Pastor of St. Andrew Church, commented, “This is a wonderful Christmas tradition that reflects the vibrant diversity of our parish. It is an important part of our Advent preparations at St. Andrew Church and I invite all members of the community to come experience this unique liturgical celebration.” This year’s Simbang Gabi Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the United Nations. Archbishop Auza has served in the diplomatic service of the Vatican for many years. He was born in the Philippines and completed his advanced theological training and academic studies in that country before being ordained in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California in 1985. Auza went on to study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas and at the Vatican Diplomatic School in Rome. He was consecrated as a bishop in 2008, and was appointed Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York representing the Holy See, by Pope Francis in 2014. Father Sustayta stated, “I am deeply grateful to Archbishop Auza for joining us this year, it is an honor to welcome him to St. Andrew Church. Having such a senior representative of the Holy See celebrate this important Mass will, no doubt, make this an unforgettable experience for our parishioners.” St. Andrew Catholic Church is located at 311 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, California. For more information, please visit: www.saintandrewpasadena.org . ###