Dear Parishioners,

The Immaculate Conception is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year. This is very unusual and may be concerning to some people. So, I would like to take a moment to briefly explain why this is.

What are Holy Days of Obligation? They are six special feast days that are not Sundays in which all Catholics are required to go to Mass. They include the Solemnity of the Mother of God (Jan 1), the Ascension of Our Lord (40 days after Easter), the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug 15), All Saints Day (Nov 1), the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec 8) and Christmas (Dec 25). These days are specifically required by the Catholic Church in the United States. Other countries have different obligations and even in some parts of our country the Ascension is transferred to Sunday.
Are they obligatory every year? No. For most of them, the bishops of America have decided that if they fall on a Saturday or Monday, people are not required to attend mass those days. The exceptions to this rule are the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas. Also, in most cases, if the Holy Days falls on a Sunday, it replaces that Sunday Mass.

Why are Christmas and the Immaculate Conception obligatory on Saturdays and Mondays? Because they are very important. Christmas is the second most important feast day in the Church (after Easter which is always on a Sunday) because it is about one of the central mysteries of the faith: the Incarnation of the Son of God. The Immaculate Conception is important because it is under that title that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of our country.

How can the Immaculate Conception not be obligatory this year? December 8th is the normal date we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. This day falls on a Sunday this year. Normally, the feast day would replace the Sunday. However, the Sundays of Advent can never be replaced with any feast day, even obligatory holy days. So, the feast day itself is transferred to the next day. But, the obligation remains with the actual date: December 8th.

Even though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, are we celebrating additional masses? No. We’re just having the normal 9 am Mass that day. If you wish to attend it, that is a good and holy thing to do. However, you are not obligated to attend Mass.
Does this mean the Immaculate Conception is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation? No. It’ll be a Holy Day of Obligation other years. This is just a specific case when it is not. (I only bring this up because I have met people legitimately confused about this point. They literally think it’s not a Holy Day of Obligation anymore.)
I hope this clears up any confusion!

God bless!

Father Carter