Paskong nagdaan tila ba kung kailan lang
Ngayon ay Pasko dapt pasalamatan
Ngayon ay Pasko tayo ay mag-awitan
Sounds familiar? Continue singing along, it'll be your LSS (last song syndrome).
You know it's December when you hear carols everywhere you go, to the mall or even out on the streets. It's that time of the year once again. When everyone's overly happy and cheery and gay. And you can't help but be infected by this holiday bug. Everyone you know will be busy, buying gifts, exchanging cards, I believe that Christmas is truly in their hearts. ♪♫ See the holiday bug is catching up! haha
Christmas parties left and right, Manito Manita, Misa de Gallo, Misa de Aguinaldo, Noche Buena. These are just a few activities Filipinos celebrate in the Philippines. But for those overseas, we improvise. Good thing the Filipino community in Singapore is big. That the Catholic church was able to accommodate and adjust to the Simbang Gabi. But the only difference is that Simbang Gabi isn't conducted at 4 in the wee hours of the morning, it's held the night before at 8pm. And here's the fun part. It is not held at the same church for 9 days. There are 3 designated churches for each day so you have to pick a church and take note on how to get there. Most people have smartphones now so you can use that to navigate your way to the church. If not, you can always follow the flock from the MRT, you'll never get lost that way.
This year's Simbang Gabi theme is "The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary".
Here are the list of churches:
(In addition to the 3 churches listed, there will also be daily masses at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and Blessed Sacrament.)
Dec 15, Thursday 8PM Mother of Christ
1. SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA --- 25 Woodlands Avenue 1
Nearest MRT: Marsiling (NS Line)
- Take Exit C and walk to bus stop (46521) at Marsiling MRT.
- Board bus 187, 856, 925, 950, 960, 961, 963 or 966 and alight 1 stop later at Blk 173.
- Walk through Blks 318, 319 and 320, pass by Fuchun Secondary School and Fuchun Primary School, go through Blk 330 and 332, beside it is Church of Saint Anthony.
2. OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA --- 10 Yishun Street 22
Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)
- Take Exit D and walk to bus stop (59009) at Yishun Interchange.
- Board bus 804 and alight 2 stops later at Blk 291.
- Walk through Blks 291, 294, 293 or 292. Across the street is the church.
3. SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI --- 200 Boon Lay Avenue
Nearest MRT: Lakeside (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (28091) at Lakeside MRT.
- Board bus 240 or 246 and alight 4 stops later at Boon Lay Swimming Complex.
- The church is right behind Boon Lay Community Centre.
Dec 16, Friday 8PM Mother of Divine Grace
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (17171) at Clementi MRT.
- Board bus 106 and alight 9 stops later at Keming Primary School.
- Pass by Blks 285 and 286 to reach the church.
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (43009) at Bukit Batok Interchange.
- Board bus 61, 106 or 852 and alight 2 stops later at Blk 283.
- Pass by Blks 285 and 286 to reach the church.
2. HOLY SPIRIT --- 248 Upper Thomson Road
Nearest MRT: Marymount (Circle Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (53021) at Opposite Shunfu Estate.
- Board bus 52, 132, 163, 165, 166, 167, 855, 980 or 162M and alight 2 stops later at Before Thomson Plaza.
- The church is right across the street.
3. HOLY FAMILY --- 6 Chapel Road
Nearest MRT: Kembangan (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (83079) at Before Siglap Plain.
- Board bus 32 and alight 10 stops later at The Holy Family Church.
Dec 17, Saturday 8PM Mother Most Pure
1. DIVINE MERCY ---19 Pasir Ris Street 72
Nearest MRT: Pasir Ris (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (77031) at After Pasir Ris Central.
- Board bus 39, 53, 81, 89 or 109 and alight 5 stops later at Blk 740.
- Across the street are Blks 734 and 735, beside 734 is the church.
2. SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL --- 301 Yio Chu Kang Road
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (Circle or NE Line)
- Take Exit E and walk to bus stop (66351) at Serangoon MRT.
- Board bus 70 and alight 10 stops later at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Nearest MRT: Yio Chu Kang (NS Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (55509) at Yio Chu Kang Bus Terminal.
- Board bus 70 and alight 15 stops later at Opposite St. Vincent de Paul Church.
3. OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE --- 4 Sandy Lane
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (82119) at Tanjong Katong Complex.
- Board bus 40, 43, 76, 135 or 197 and alight 1 stop later at CDAC Building.
- Walk to the church.
Nearest MRT: Dakota (Circle Line)
- Walk to the church.
Dec 18, Sunday 8PM Mother Most Chaste
1. SAINT MICHAEL --- 17 Saint Michael's Road
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (07371) at After Kallang Road.
- Board bus 13 or 133 and alight 6 stops later at St. Michael's Place.
- Walk straight St. Michael's Road, the church is at the corner block.
Nearest MRT: Boon Keng (NE Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (60121) at Boon Keng MRT.
- Board bus 13, 23, 31, 64, 65, 66, 125, 132, 147, 857 or 985 and alight 2 stops later at St. Michael's Place.
- Walk straight St. Michael's Road, the church is at the corner block.
2. HOLY CROSS --- 450 Clementi Avenue 1
Nearest MRT: Dover MRT (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (19031) at Dover MRT.
- Board bus 14, 105, 106, 147, 166 or 185 and alight 2 stops later at Blk 410.
- Pass by Blks 410, 411 and Casa Clementi, the church is right across Nan Hua High School.
3. SAINT BERNADETTE --- 12 Zion Road
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (10169) at Tiong Bahru Plaza.
- Board bus 5, 16 or 195 and alight 5 stops later at Opposite Great World City.
- Walk straight on Zion Road towards Tiara or Great World Serviced Apartments. The church is right across it.
Dec 19, Monday 8PM Mother Inviolate
Nearest MRT: Farrer Road (Circle Line)
- Pass by International Baptist Church, right across it is the Church of Saint Ignatius.
2. IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY --- 24 Highland Road
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (Circle or NE Line)
- Walk to the bus stop (62131) at Serangoon MRT.
- Board bus 101, 107 or 153 and alight 2 stops later at Nam Peng Centre.
- The church is behind Pertapis Children Home.
3. SAINT STEPHEN --- 30 Sallim Road
Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (81081) at Opposite Aljunied MRT.
- Board bus 62 or 100 and alight 3 stops later at Opposite Canossa Convent Primary School.
- Walk straight on Sallim Road, at the end of the block is the church.
Dec 20, Tuesday 8PM Mother Undefiled
1. SAINT JOSEPH --- 143 Victoria StreetNearest MRT: Bras Basah (Circle Line)
- Walk straight on Queen Street, pass by NTUC Trade Union House, Hotel Royal @ Queens, the church is right after Wilby Central.
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line)
- Walk to the church. It is right beside Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
2. SAINT TERESA --- 510 Kampung Bahru Road
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW or NS Line)
- Take Exit E and walk to bus stop (05019) at Opposite Pearl's Centre.
- Board bus 124 or 143 and alight 4 stops later at Opposite St. Theresa's Church.
3. SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER --- 63A Chartwell Drive
Nearest MRT: Bishan (NS or Circle Line)
- Take B and walk to bus stop (53239) at Opposite Bishan MRT.
- Board bus 58 or 156 and alight 4 stops later at Golden Hill Estate.
- Walk to the church.
Dec 21, Wednesday 8PM Mother Most Amiable
1. CHRIST THE KING --- 2221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8Nearest MRT: Bishan (NS or Circle Line)
- Walk to bus stop (53239) at Opposite Bishan MRT.
- Board bus 55 and alight 4 stops later at Blk 409A.
- Walk by Blks 407, 408, 406 and 405, right across the street is the church.
2. THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ---1259 Upper Serangoon Road
Nearest MRT: Hougang (NE Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (64009) at Hougang Central Interchange.
- Board bus 74, 112, 113 or 147 and alight 2 stops later at Blk 465A.
- Walk to the church.
3. HOLY TRINITY --- 20 Tampines Street 11
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (84031) at Bedok MRT.
- Board bus 28 and alight 10 stops later at Opposite The Holy Trinity Church.
- Walk to the church.
Dec 22, Thursday 8PM Mother Most Admirable
Nearest MRT: Kembangan (EW Line)
- Take Exit B and walk to bus stop (83062) at Kembangan MRT.
- Board bus 2, 7, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 33, 67 or 854 and alight 1 stop later at Opposite Perpetual Succour Church.
- Walk to the church.
2. SAINT ALPHONSUS (NOVENA) --- 300 Thomson Road
Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)
- Walk to the church.
3. BLESSED SACRAMENT --- 1 Commonwealth Drive
Nearest MRT: Commonwealth (EW Line)
- The church is right beside Tanglin Halt Market.
Dec 23, Friday 8PM Mother of Good Counsel
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line)
- Pass by Albert Centre Temporary Market and the church is right across Victoria Street Wholesale Centre.
2. SAINT ANNE --- 66 Sengkang East Way
Nearest MRT: Compassvale (LRT)
- Pass by Rivervale Community Centre, Blk194. The church is right beside Blk 420.
3. RISEN CHRIST --- 91 Toa Payoh Central
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to the church. It is right beside Toa Payoh Central Community Club.
Dec 24, Saturday 8PM Mother of our Saviour
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (Circle Line)
- the church is right beside Singapore Art Museum.
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line)
- Take Exit A and walk to bus stop (01059) at Bugis MRT.
- Board bus 2, 12, 33, 130, 133or 960 and alight 2 stops later at Bras Basah Complex.
- Pass by Hotel Grand Pacific and Hotel Royal @ Queens. Across the street is the church.
And before I forget, there's a fellowship (meaning snacks! haha) after the end of the mass.
Merry Christmas one and all!
If you have any suggestions for easy directions in going to the church or whatever, please drop a comment.
Source for directions: gothere.sg
