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Holy Days From The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Catholics are obliged to attend Mass every Sunday and on those special Holy Days of Obligation. Those listed here are the major Feast Days in the Catholic Church in America, of which some of these feasts have been transferred to Sundays. Not every Feast Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, so look for the designation.
Major Feasts and Holy Days of ObligationHoly Days of Obligation with Special Seasons and Feasts
2018 2019 Day Celebration of Holy Days of
ObligationSeasons and
FeastsHoly Days of
ObligationSeasons and
FeastsSunday The Resurrection of Our Lord Sundays Sundays Mary,
Mother of GodOur Lady's divine maternity Monday,
January 1 [1]Tuesday,
January 1 [1]Epiphany Our Lord's manifestation to the world through the visit of the magi Sunday,
January 7Sunday,
January 6Baptism of the Lord Close of the Christmas Season Monday,
January 8Sunday,
January 13Ash Wednesday+ Beginning of Lent which lasts until the evening Mass of the Lords Supper on Holy Thursday night February 14 March 6 Passion \ Palm Sunday The Lord's entrance into Jerusalem and His betrayal. Begins Holy Week. March 25 April 14 Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper March 29 April 18 Good Friday The Lord's Passion March 30 April 19 Holy Saturday The Great Easter Vigil* March 31 [2] April 20 [3] Easter Sunday The Lord's Resurrection and Appearance. Begins the 50 Days of Easter April 1 April 21 Ascension of Christ The Ascension of Our Lord Sunday,
May 13Sunday,
June 2Pentecost The Gift of the Holy Spirit. Closes the Easter Season. Sunday,
May 20Sunday,
June 9Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Our Lord's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament Sunday
June 3Sunday,
June 23Assumption Assumption of Mary Into Heaven Wednesday,
August 15
[1]Thursday,
August 15
[1]All Saints Celebration of those God has brought into heaven and how they model Christ to us Thursday,
November 1Friday,
November 1Christ the King Final Sunday of Church Year Sunday,
November 25Sunday,
November 241st Sunday of Advent 1st Sunday of Church Year and beginning of four-week preparation for Christmas. Sunday,
December 2Sunday,
December 1Immaculate Conception Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Patronal Feast of the United States Saturday,
December 8(transferred from Sunday, December 8)
Celebrated Monday, December 9 [4]Christmas The Birth of Our Lord Tuesday,
December 25Wednesday,
December 25Christmas Season Christmas through Baptism of Our Lord December 25, 2018 - January 8, 2019 December 25, 2019 - January 12, 2020
[1] At their November 1991 meeting, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops decided that whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God or August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin or November 1, the Feast of All Saints falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the precept to celebrate Mass is dispensed. The Congregation for Bishops confirmed the action on July 4, 1992.
Although the obligation to celebrate Mass when these three holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday is abolished, parishes are to continue to observe these holy days by scheduling one or more Masses at a convenient time so that people who wish to participate are able to do so.
+ Lenten Days of Fast, Abstinence, and Penance
All Fridays of Lent are Days of Abstinence
Abstinence means not eating meat. All persons 14 years and older are bound by the law of abstinence.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Days of both Fast and Abstinence
Fasting allows one full meal, but a light breakfast and lunch are not forbidden. All adults, 18 up to the beginning of their sixtieth (60) year, are bound by the law of fasting. Pastors and parents are to see to it that children, while not bound to the law of fast and abstinence, are educated and introduced to an authentic sense of penance.
On Fridays, when abstinence is not required by law, acts of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety are suggested. Abstinence from meat is especially recommended but under no obligation by law.
* The Easter Vigil, during the holy night when Christ rose from the dead, ranks as the "mother of all vigils."11 Keeping watch, the Church awaits Christ's resurrection and celebrates it in the sacraments. Accordingly, the entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should either begin after nightfall or end before the dawn of Sunday (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, no. 21).
[2] Easter Vigil 2018 - Easter Vigil should not begin before 8:30 pm CDT (Nautical Twilight @ 8:32 pm CDT)
[3] Easter Vigil 2019 - Easter Vigil should not begin before 8:30 pm CDT (Nautical Twilight @ 8:46 pm CDT)
[4] The obligation to attend Mass is abrogated when the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to December 9.