20 December 2022, Stockholm – The Embassy of the Philippines, led by H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, hosted the mass on 19 December 2022 for “Simbang Gabi” at the Sta. Eugenia Catholic Church in Stockholm.

With the goal to revive the Filipino tradition in celebrating Christmas, the Filipino Christian Community (FCC) in Sweden, with the guidance of Fr. Roño Toledo, CP, the group organized Simbang Gabi in Sweden, a devotional, nine-day series of masses from 15-23 December 2022, in anticipation of the celebration of Christmas. It is the first iteration of the event carried out in Sweden.

During the eucharist, Fr. Toledo took the opportunity to call on the community to continue to find ways to count their blessings despite the anxiety and uncertainties faced by society. He further called on Filipino Catholics to continue to be a beacon of the true spirit of Christmas through their unwavering faith, peace, and unity.

Fr. Toledo also shared that he arranged a meeting between Ambassador Isleta and Cardinal Anders Arborelius, wherein the former discussed Filipino Catholic traditions, including the Simbang Gabi. The meeting served as a catalyst in securing the blessing of the Cardinal to hold the Simbang Gabi in Sweden, despite not being a traditionally-Swedish eucharistic practice. 

After the mass had concluded, the Embassy personnel was joined by church-goers to a fika where Filipino delicacies, including bibingka, suman, empanada, and ensaymada, were served.

The Simbang Gabi is live streamed through the Filipino Mission in Sweden’s Facebook page. END.