Preparing for the Misa de Gallo 4.30am Mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Wilsonton are parish priests (from left) Fr Hermi Nigildo Rafada, Fr Edgar Boglose and Fr Roque Maguinsay. Kevin Farmer
THREE Catholic priests from the Philippines are bringing some Filipino tradition to Toowoomba with the "Misa de Gallo".
Misa de Gallo, Spanish for "Rooster's Mass", is a series of masses nine days in a row from December 16 to Christmas Eve.
Sacred Heart Wilsonton parish priests Fr Roque Maguinsay, Fr Edgar Boglose and Fr Hermi Nigildo Rafada are leading the masses, a Filipino tradition in the lead up to Christmas Day.
Though a fairly normal Catholic mass, the difference in the Misa de Gallo series is that Mass starts at 4.30am, hence the "Rooster's Mass" reference.
"We thought the attendance would decrease after the first couple of days, but the numbers have increased," Fr Edgar said.
Toowoomba's growing Filipino population provided a large number of the people attending the masses, but the services are open to the city's wider community.
After each Mass, many attendees remain to share a light breakfast brought to the church.
The final two Misa de Gallo masses at Sacred Heart will be held from 4.30am today and tomorrow.
Sacred Heart parish will also hold another Filipino traditional service with Eucharistic Adoration from 8pm to midnight on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2015.
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