Liturgical Calendar

Introduction

Contents

Background
Pages giving a brief explanation of different elements concerning liturgical calendars. Where helpful a link to the relevant explanation will be provided in the sections below.
Liturgical Calendar
A liturgical calendar for the current and other years. Information is provided about Sunday and other celebrations. This information is being developed over the coming years.
A table giving a Summary of dates can be found at the bottom of the page.
Information is also included about the Universal Calendar (brief explanation) which is used by the whole Church.
Calendar Notes
Each year the Liturgy Office provides a summary of the Liturgical Calendar for the forthcoming year noting any particular changes. A draft list is provided for the following year.
If you would like to receive an email when the Calendar Notes are available and notification of any changes that may occur send an email to the Liturgy Office.
Liturgical Seasons
In addition to the brief introduction the following pages give background notes and a compendium of materials from the site.
National Calendar
Details of the National Calendars for:
Documents
The following Church documents on celebrating the liturgical year are available:
Table of Rubrics
The table of rubrics gives details of when celebrations using the formularies from Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, and Masses for the Dead are permitted within the liturgical year.
Moveable Feasts
A page giving a table of moveable feasts up to 2040 with downloadable pdf file
Table of Sundays
Apart from the Seasons of Lent and Easter each Sunday of the Year is tied to a range of dates - this table gives details.
Holydays of Obligation
Bold entries in the table below denote Holydays of Obligation in England and Wales. From the 1st Sunday of Advent 2006 (3 December) the number of Holydays in England and Wales will change. The Epiphany of the Lord, The Ascension of the Lord and the Body and Blood of Christ will be transferred to the nearest Sunday as laid down in the liturgical books. This is shown in the table below. For more details see the Holydays page.
According to a decision of the Bishops' Conference (1984) Holydays which fall on Saturday or Monday are transferred to the Sunday.
Summary Table of Liturgical Dates
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Lectionary (Sunday/Weekday) B/II C/I A/II B/I C/II
First Sunday of Advent 27 November 2005 3 December 2006 2 December 2007 30 November 2008 29 November 2009
Birth of the Lord 25 December 25 December 25 December 25 December 25 December
Epiphany 6 January 7 January 6 January 4 January 3 January
Ash Wednesday 1 March 21 February 6 February 25 February 17 February
Easter Sunday 16 April 8 April 23 March 12 April 4 April
Ascension 25 May 20 May 4 May 24 May 16 May
Pentecost 4 June 27 May 11 May 31 May 23 May
The Body and Blood of Christ 15 June 10 June 25 May 14 June 6 June
St Peter & St Paul 29 June 29 June 29 June 28 June 29 June
Assumption 15 August 15 August 15 August 16 August 15 August
All Saints 1 November 1 November 2 November 1 November 31 October
First Sunday of Advent 3 December 2 December 30 November 29 November 28 November