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 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
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
2009 2010 2008    
Lectionary (Sunday/Weekday) B/I C/II A/I B/II C/1
First Sunday of Advent 30 November 2008 29 November 2009 28 November 2010 27 November 2011 2 December 2012
Birth of the Lord 25 December 25 December 25 December 25 December 25 December
Epiphany 4 January 3 January 2 January 8 January 6 January
Ash Wednesday 25 February 17 February 9 March 22 February 13 February
Easter Sunday 12 April 4 April 24 April 8 April 31 March
Ascension 24 May 16 May 5 June 20 May 12 May
Pentecost 31 May 23 May 12 June 27 May 19 May
The Body and Blood of Christ 14 June 6 June 26 June 10 June 2 June
St Peter & St Paul 28 June 29 June 29 June 29 June 30 June
Assumption 16 August 15 August 14 August 15 August 15 August
All Saints 1 November 31 October 1 November 1 November 1 November
First Sunday of Advent 29 November 28 November 27 November 2 December 1 December