A NOVENA organised by the Filipino community in Belfast is due to conclude tomorrow.
The fourth year of the 'Misa de Gallo' in St Vincent de Paul Church in Ligoniel has already attracted hundreds of people to 6am Mass.
The nine-day novena, which is a Filipino advent tradition, will end tomorrow with a Mass celebrated by Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor.
Fr Patrick Devlin, parish priest of St Vincent De Paul Church, said it was "a way of helping people focus about what is most important about Christmas and that is the birth of Jesus".
"We have had between 150 and 170 people gather each morning for the Mass and afterwards for breakfast.
"We have a growing community in Northern Ireland and this all began when I went to visit a Filipino family who were new to the parish. I asked them what they missed most about home and they said they missed the Misa de Gallo.
"Throughout the Philippines, this would be a very regular occurrence in the parishes.
"The community here are also looking forward to returning home in January for the 51st Eucharistic Congress, which will also be attended by many people from Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast."
