Liturgical Dates

The Holy Days of Obligation are the days (outside of Sundays) on which Catholics gather together to celebrate the mysteries of our faith as a community.  These liturgical celebrations focus on important mysteries of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints.

The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is more than just legal, it is an act of justice and charity.  In justice, we owe our Creator God the thanks and worship He deserves.  In charity, we respond as a community to God's love for us.  In addition, we are responsible as a family of faith in mutually supporting one another and building up the Body of Christ. Gathering together in our parishes and communities on Sundays and holy days of obligation helps us to "encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11), as well as to give the worship due to God, our loving Creator.  If we don't have a weekly opportunity to build up our faith through Word and Sacrament, where else will we go?  At one point, Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you also want to leave?”  As disciples of Jesus, we can reply as Saint Peter did, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6: 68).

Holy Days for 2020

• Wednesday, January 1, 2020: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• Thursday, May 21, 2020: The Ascension of the Lord
• *Saturday, August 15, 2020: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Sunday, November 1, 2020: Solemnity of All Saints
• Tuesday, December 8, 2020: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Friday, December 25, 2020: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

*Note: Whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated (cancelled). 

Other important liturgical days:

• Ash Wednesday: February 26, 2020
• Palm Sunday: April 5, 2020
• Holy Thursday: April 9, 2020
• Good Friday: April 10, 2020
• Easter Sunday: April 12, 2020
• Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Wednesday, March 25, 2020
• Pentecost Sunday: May 31, 2020
• The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Sunday, June 14, 2020
• The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Friday, June 19, 2020
• First Sunday of Advent: November 29, 2020

Lectionary for Mass Cycles:

• Sunday, December 1, 2019, to Saturday, November 28, 2020
  • Sunday Cycle: Year A
  • Weekday Cycle: Year II

See the Epiphany Proclamation

202007.10​​​​​​​