Holydays of Obligation
England and Wales
With effect from the 1st Sunday of Advent 2017, two holydays of obligation are being reinstated. This decision was made by the Bishops of England and Wales, and has been confirmed by the Holy See. The days are:
- The Epiphany of the Lord — 6 January (transferred to the adjacent Sunday when it falls on Saturday or Monday)
- The Ascension of the Lord — Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter
Documents
- Decree of Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (pdf)
- Decree of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (pdf)
- Background paper on Holydays of Obligation (pdf)
- Summary table of dates 2017–2022
- Calendar notes for 2018 [pdf]
- Draft Calendar notes for 2019 [pdf]
- Table of Moveable Feasts up to 2050
Summary Information
From the 1st Sunday of Advent 2017 the Holydays of Obligations for England and Wales changed. They are:
- Every Sunday
- Nativity of the Lord (25 December)
- Epiphany of the Lord (6 January*)
- Ascension of the Lord (Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter)
- St Peter & St Paul (29 June*)
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August*)
- All Saints (1 November*)
* According to a decision of the Bishops' Conference (1984) Holydays which fall on Saturday or Monday are transferred to the Sunday.
Since 2006 the following celebration is transferred to Sunday:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Lectionary (Sunday/Weekday) | A/I | B/II | C/1 | A/II | B/I | C/II |
| First Sunday of Advent | 27 November 2016 | 3 December 2017 | 2 December 2018 | 1 December 2019 | 29 November 2020 | 28 November 2021 |
| Nativity of the Lord | 25 December | 25 December | 25 December | 25 December | 25 December | 25 December |
| Epiphany | 8 January | 7 January | 6 January | 5 January | 6 January | 6 January |
| Ash Wednesday | 1 March | 14 February | 6 March | 26 February | 17 February | 2 March |
| Easter Sunday | 16 April | 1 April | 21 April | 12 April | 4 April | 17 April |
| Ascension | 28 May | 10 May | 30 May | 21 May | 13 May | 26 May |
| Pentecost | 4 June | 20 May | 9 June | 31 May | 23 May | 5 June |
| The Body and Blood of the Lord | 18 June | 3 June | 23 June | 14 June | 6 June | 19 June |
| St Peter & St Paul | 29 June | 29 June | 30 June | 28 June | 29 June | 29 June |
| Assumption | 15 August | 15 August | 15 August | 16 August | 15 August | 14 August |
| All Saints | 1 November | 1 November | 1 November | 1 November | 31 October | 1 November |
| First Sunday of Advent | 3 December | 2 December | 1 December | 29 November | 28 November | 27 November |