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For more than 11 years . . .
the only Misa sa Wikang Tagalog
every Sunday in the Chicagoland area.
News and Upcoming Events
FEAST DAY of SAN LORENZO RUIZ
The Misang Tagalog Core Group sponsored the celebration of the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila last Sunday, 5:00 p.m., September 25, 2011 at the Transfiguration of Our Lord church. After the Novena, the Mass was celebrated by Fr. John Era together with Fr. Harold Parilla. Due to rainy weather, the procession was held inside the church. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed the reception at the Church's hall.
Learn more about our First Filipino Saint by CLICKING HERE!
Transfiguration turned 100!
The Misang Tagalog prayerfully joins Transfiguration Parish in celebrating its centennial! This once-in-a-lifetime event took place last Sunday, August 7, 2011. The festivity was graced by the presence of Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, who was also the main-celebrant of the Centennial Mass together with Most Reverend Francis Kane, District Bishop of Vicariate II, Most Reverend Thad Jakubowski, concelebrating priests and assisting deacons.
Expecting a huge turnout, a big screen was set up at the church's hall in the basement where more than a couple of hundred attendees saw the live broadcast of the Mass through a video feed from the standing-room-only packed church's main floor.
Left to Right: Louis Velasquez, Jesse Mante, Cardinal Francis George, a family of Transfiguration parishioner and Fr. Al Salera.
After the mass, former and current parishioners and other visitors revered photo opportunities with Cardinal George, Bishop Kane and guest priests while enjoying the reception in the church's hall and in the church's yard.
The celebration continued on August 13, 2011 with the Centennial Ball at the White Eagle Banquets in Niles. The event, which started at 7 pm, was highlighted with a speech from guest of honor Bishop Francis Kane and was followed by a scrumptious dinner, raffle, and silent auction. The festivities wrapped up with all the celebrants, ordained or otherwise, dancing into the night. Photos, courtesy of Wally Tagarao.
Ladies of the Misang Tagalog all dressed up for the night.
Seated, left to right: Elena de Guzman, Ada de la Cruz, and Dolores Javier. Standing, left
to right:Chi Tagarao, Josie Lunario, Mel Tumang, Agie Gallarin, Ayres Pagatpatan, Marie Marasigan, Amor Eden P. Saenz, Fely Galauran.
Historical Timeline
April 2000 --- The Tagalog Mass Core Group began the remote preparations for the planned regular Misang Tagalog at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, including the SAMBAHIMIG, a collection of Mass songs in Tagalog, the Order of the Mass in Tagalog and the Novena to San Lorenzo Ruiz. Father John Rudnick, then pastor of the parish, approved the planned activity.
May 28, 2000 --- The first regular Misang Tagalog was presided by Father Rene Pareja on May 28, 2000. Since that time, the Misang Tagalog was celebrated every 5:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month. The Mass was always preceded by a novena to the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz.
The first altar server was CJ Mante.
May 2001 --- The First Anniversary of Misang Tagalog and Flores de Maria were celebrated, with Jane Tungol as the first Reina delas Flores, and Jessie and Lileth Mante as the first Hermano and Hermana.
October 2001 --- From this month on, the Misang Tagalog is being celebrated every Sunday at the usual time. Sometime this year, Father Terence Keehan was appointed pastor of Transfiguration of Our Lord Church and St. Matthias Church, with Father John Rudnick assuming the post of Parochial Vicar.
December 2001 --- The complete nine Simbang Gabi Masses were sponsored by the Tagalog Mass Core Group and celebrated in our native language.
2002 --- A substantial portion of the proceeds from the 2nd Anniversary and Flores de Maria souvenir program was donated for the lighted signage, erected in front of the church. 
Sometime in the fall,
the Tagalog Mass Core Group underwent a series of liturgical seminars. This year also marked the beginning of the Core Group's involvement in the Holy Week services, which were formerly sponsored by FILCA.
Summer 2003 --- Part of the proceeds from the 3rd Anniversary and Flores de Maria was used in procuring new liturgical vestments, censer and boat set, and holy water vessel for Transfiguration Church.
Nov. 22, 2003 --- The Tagalog Mass Core Group received the Award of Excellence in Religion from the Fil-Am TV Hall of Famers USA. The plaque of Recognition was presented by Secretary of State Jesse White and Consul Adelio Cruz. It was also during this year that the Tagalog Mass Core Group began preparing the second edition SAMBAHIMIG.
Fall 2004 --- The second edition of SAMBAHIMIG was printed. Mass goers and sponsors generously donated money for the printing of SAMBAHIMIG, a 325-page book in Tagalog that contains the Novena in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Order of the Mass, Holy Rosary and Litany, Mass Songs, Benediction
Prayers and Songs and an Index of Songs with the corresponding appropriate liturgical seasons and parts of the Mass were they may be used. During the month of October, various groups devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her titles such as Our Lady of Manaoag, Our Lady of Piat, Our Lady of Antipolo and Our Lady of Penafrancia,
were invited to lead the recitation of the Holy Rosary before the Mass, as well as to sponsor the Mass. They brought their statues of Mary to the church and kept it there for a week. This practice continues up to the present.
2007 --- In early October 2007, The liturgical re-orientation and seminar were held for all the liturgical ministers of Misang Tagalog -- ushers, commentators, altar servers, lectors, petition readers, music director and singers, and eucharistic ministers. A lively open forum helped clarify significant points and address problematic areas.
On mission Sunday 2007, the installation of all liturgical ministers was presided by Fr. Florido, and on the Solemnity of Christ the King, the members of the Core Group were inducted.
2008 --- On Feb. 17, 2008, the Chicago History Museum (CHM) sent some people to audio-record the Misang Tagalog at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. It was part of the preparation being undertaken by the CHM for the Exhibit Catholic Chicago, in collaboration with exhibit curator Jill Grannan.
The exhibit which opened on March 8, 2008 and closed on January 5, 2009, was presented in six sections. The Misang Tagalog at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church was featured in two of them. In "Worship in the City," the visitors could hear the Misang Tagalog choir singing "Lorenzo Ruiz, Martir" (music by B. Maramba; lyrics by Celso Carunungan) and "Panalangin sa Pagbubukas Palad" (music by Manuel Francisco and Jandi Arboleda; lyrics by T.M. Ofracio), as well as part of the sung Tagalog preface, while they viewed the architecture and traditional imagery and symbolism seen in the churches around Chicago. Recorded liturgical songs in Latin, Spanish, English and Polish were also played.
The section "Commited to the Community" examined the role of parishes and Catholic communities around the city, with focus on the Catholic traditions and the "cradle to grave" experience of parish life. The gown and photo of Abigail Alysia Malvestuto, who was the "Reyna de las Flores" during the 2008 Flores de Maria at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church --- she was also the 2006 "Reyna ng Kapayapaan" and the 2007 "Reyna ng Luklukan ng Karunungan" --- were displayed together with other artifacts like a baptismal gown, a wedding dress and an altar server's garb.
The exhibit also featured 47 oral history interiews, including interviews from Cardinal George, sister Rosemary Connely, Father Arturo Perez and Abigail Alysia Malvestuto, among others. Abigail shared her thoughts on her participation in the Marian devotion at Transfiguration Church.
2009 --- In June 2009 extensive planning and preparation for the 10th Anniversary & Flores de Maria began. The Core Group and Father Florido had initial meetings with prospective 2010 hermanos and hermanas on September 20, 2009. The 2010 hermanos and hermanas and some reynas were introduced to the congregation at the Tagalog Mass
on November 22, 2009. The newest members of the Core Group were formally inducted: Mike Yraola and Ronald Fajardo on April 12, 2009; Rudy Bautista, Julie Chavez, Romy and Lourdes Taan, Beth Yraola, and Lucy Galang on September 20, 2009. In June, the Core Group gave a plaque of appreciation to Father Terrence Keehan,
who was assigned new pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Illinois.
2010 ---Sadly, Neddie Santos, one of the original Core Group member . . . passed away on January 21 , 2010.
Ten years of Misang Tagalog at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church! This milestone was celebrated on June 6, 2010 with a Thanksgiving Anniversary Mass and Flores de Maria. The main celebrant and homilist was Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, D.D., Auxilliary Bishop of Los Angeles and first Filipino-American priest to be ordained bishop in the USA. The 10th Anniverssary Dinner-Ball,
which featured a rigodon performed by Hermanos and Hermanas and some Core Group members and a serenade to the Reynas, took place on June 5, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Northshore in Skokie, Illinois. A posthumous plaque of recognition was awarded to Neddie Santos.
To memorialize the 10th anniversary, The Misang Tagalog Core Group donated the following to the parish: $10,000.00 in cash, 4 sets of green chasubles and stoles, purificators and, repair and refurbishing of the monstrance.
Today we pause, look back, and thank God for bringing us this far in our journey of faith sustained by the Eucharist Lord. As we count our graces, we look forward, imbued with hope, to many, many more years of Misang Tagalog.