The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced a change for the faithful in celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dec. 8. Since the holy day of obligation falls on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, it was transferred to Monday, Dec. 9. The update is that the faithful will now have to attend Mass for the solemnity.
The USCCB only recently announced this change after receiving clarification from the Vatican. When the USCCB initially released its liturgical calendar for 2024, there was no obligation to attend Mass for the solemnity, which is the patronal feast day of the United States.
Earlier this year, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, wrote to the Holy See, asking for clarification about the obligation to attend Mass when a holy day of obligation in Advent, Lent, or Easter falls on a Sunday.
Bishop Paprocki sent a memo to the U.S. bishops on Oct. 10, sharing the response from the Dicastery for Legislative Texts: “the feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.”
An important note is that the Second Sunday of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception are two distinct, separate obligations for Mass and cannot be combined. Even if the parish has a Sunday evening Mass, attendance at one Mass would not count for both obligations.
The faithful should plan to attend: 1) Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent (either Saturday Vigil Mass or a Sunday Mass), and 2) Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (either Sunday evening Mass (regardless of Mass setting) or a Monday Mass).
The faithful should check parish bulletins for the Mass schedule Dec. 7-9 or talk with their pastor if they have questions.