Holy Days of Obligation

1 January 2024 – The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God is celebrated on Monday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Sunday evening. When this Solemnity occurs on a Saturday or a Monday, it remains a Solemnity, but the obligation to participate in Mass is removed.

12 May 2024 – The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord has been permanently transferred in New Jersey, replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

(There are several regions in the United States that retain celebrating the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord to the Thursday following the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Pennsylvania is one of those regions.)

15 August 2024 – The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on Thursday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Wednesday evening.

1 November 2024 – The Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated on Friday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Thursday evening. When this Solemnity occurs on a Saturday or a Monday, it remains a Solemnity, but the obligation to participate in Mass is removed.

9 December 2024 – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (National and Diocesan Patronal Feast) is celebrated on Monday (transferred from December 8, which celebrates the Second Sunday of Advent), superseding the Optional Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. The obligation to participate in Mass is removed when this Solemnity is transferred.

25 December 2024 – The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord is celebrated on Wednesday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Tuesday evening.

1 January 2025 – The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God is celebrated on Wednesday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Tuesday evening. 

Holy Week Schedule

~PALM SUNDAY
April 2, 2023 ~
Regular Mass Schedule
Passion play will be part of the Saturday 4:00pm Mass and the Sunday 10:00am Mass at St. Michael Church

~ HOLY THURSDAY
April 6, 2023 ~
No Morning Mass
Bilingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper
~ 7:00pm ~ St. Michael
~ Repository at all Churches ~ Car procession and visitation to Churches and shrines starting at St. Michael and proceeding to St. Barbara Chapel, Our Lady of Victories, St. Mary, St. Rose, St. Padre Pio Shrine, and ending at St.Michael 12:00 Midnight

~ GOOD FRIDAY
April 7, 2023 ~
No Morning Mass
12 Noon Outdoor Stations of the Cross followed
by Passion of Christ (sp) ~ Our Lady of Victories
2:30 Stations & 3:00pm Passion of Christ (eng) ~ St. Rose
~ Viewing of Jesus (bilingual) ~
7:00pm-midnight ~ St. Michael

~ HOLY SATURDAY
April 8, 2023 ~
No Morning Mass
1:00pm  Blessing of Easter Baskets ~ St Michael
Easter Vigil (bilingual) ~ 8:00pm ~ St. Michael

~ EASTER SUNDAY
April 9, 2023 ~
8:00am ~ St. Rose of Lima
10:00am ~ St. Michael
12:00pm (sp) ~ St. Michael
1:00pm ~ St. Mary

The schedule of Holy Days of Obligation may always be found here: Holy Days of Obligation – Diocese of Camden (camdendiocese.org)  

   

DECEMBER 24-28  

*Christmas Vigil Masses are permitted on Friday, December 24, beginning at 4pm.  

*Parishes are encouraged not to schedule Saturday evening masses on December 25.  

*Sunday, December 26 celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  

*Monday, December 27 celebrates the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist  

*Tuesday, December 28 celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents  

   

DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 2  

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (January 1) is not obligatory, as it falls on a Saturday.  

*Vigil Masses on Friday, December 31 may be celebrated, beginning 4pm.  

*Masses during the day Saturday, January 1 celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  

*Vigil Masses for the Epiphany may be celebrated Saturday, January 1, beginning 4pm.  

*The Epiphany is celebrated Sunday, January 2.  

   

JANUARY 9: Sunday Masses (and Saturday Vigil Masses preceding) celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord  

NEW

• St. Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (27 February)

• St. John De Avila, Priest and Doctor of the Church (10 May)

• and St. Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (17 September).

1 November 2021 – The Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated on Monday. When this Solemnity occurs on a Saturday or a Monday, it remains a Solemnity, but the obligation to participate in Mass is removed.

8 December 2021 – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (National and Diocesan Patronal Feast)  is celebrated on Wednesday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Tuesday evening.

25 December 2021 – The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord is celebrated on Saturday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Friday evening.

1 January 2022 – The Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God is celebrated on Saturday with the possibility of anticipated Masses on Friday evening.

OBLIGATORY MEMORIAL – SAINTS MARTHA, MARY, AND LAZARUS

On January 26, 2021, a CDWDS Decree indicated that July 29—the Obligatory Memorial of Saint Martha—will hereafter include her sister and brother, Saints Mary and Lazarus. (They had already been included on this date in the 2004 Roman Martyrology.)  Moreover, in some particular calendars, the three are already celebrated together.

 

“Therefore, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope FRANCIS, considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life, and accepting the proposal of this dicastery, has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus” (Prot. N. 35/21).

 

The Memorial should appear under this title in all calendars and Liturgical Books for the celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.  New prayers have been issued but must be translated by the various episcopal conferences worldwide.

 

NEW OPTIONAL MEMORIALS

In addition, a February 2, 2021 Decree by the same Congregation announced that the following are to be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar as Optional Memorials: