HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION AND FEAST DAYS IN THE MARONITE EPARCHY OF AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND OCEANIA
General Norm
On Holy Days of Obligation, the faithful are required to attend the Divine Liturgy of the Eucharist. These are special occasions when the parish community gathers as one in sacred worship to praise and thank God for His blessings and graces.
Accordingly, with pastoral care for the faithful and in response to requests for an authoritative episcopal statement regarding Holy Days of Obligation in the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, I promulgate the following norms and exhortations.
EACH SUNDAY IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
All Maronites are required to attend the Sunday celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Note: The liturgical day begins on the evening before the calendar day. Therefore, attendance at a Saturday Vigil, a Saturday evening Divine Liturgy in which the Sunday liturgy is celebrated, fulfils the obligation for Sunday.
Immovable Holy Days of Obligation
Attendance at the Divine Liturgy is obligatory for all Maronites on the following feast days, or their corresponding vigil. These Holy Days of Obligation are observed on the day they occur, regardless of the day of the week, and are therefore described as “immovable.”
6 January — Epiphany of Our Lord
9 February — Saint Maroun
15 August — Assumption of the Virgin Mary
14 September — Exaltation of the Holy Cross
25 December — Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day)
Moveable Holy Days of Obligation
Maronites who are unable to conveniently attend the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast may fulfil their obligation by attending the Divine Liturgy on the following Sunday.
Ascension of Our Lord — Thursday, 40 days after Easter
29 June — Saints Peter and Paul
6 August — Transfiguration of Our Lord
Local Holy Days of Obligation
All Maronites, wherever they live, are encouraged, but not obliged, to sanctify these feasts by attending the Divine Liturgy at the appropriate church.
Maronites living within a parish named after one of the following saints or feasts are obliged to attend the Divine Liturgy on the relevant day, or the corresponding vigil. If the parish celebrates its principal feast on the following Sunday, the faithful of that parish may fulfil their obligation by attending on that Sunday. Only the relevant parish is permitted to transfer the celebration of its feast to the following Sunday.
19 March — Saint Joseph
23 March — Saint Rafqa
23 April — Saint George
Third Sunday of July — Saint Charbel
14 September — Christ the Redeemer (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
24 September — Our Lady of Mercy
26 September — Saint John the Beloved
22 October — Saint John Paul II
18 November — Saint Raymond
14 December — Saint Nehmetallah
Liturgical Celebrations at Which Attendance Is Highly Encouraged
The faithful are strongly encouraged to attend the Divine Liturgy and other liturgical celebrations on the following days:
1 January — World Day of Peace, Circumcision of the Lord, and Presentation of Christ in the Temple
2 February — Saint John Maroun
2 March — The Annunciation
25 March — Rite of the Blessing of the Ashes
Ash Monday
Fridays in Great Lent — Evening Prayer and Adoration of the Cross
Hosanna (Palm) Sunday Evening — Arrival at the Harbour
Passion Wednesday — Rite of the Lamp
(Holy) Thursday of the Mysteries — Rite of the Washing of the Feet and Divine Liturgy
Great (Good) Friday Morning — Signing of the Chalice
Great (Good) Friday — Rite of Adoration of the Cross
Saturday of the Light (Easter Saturday) — Rite of Forgiveness
Easter Monday
Thursday after Trinity Sunday — Corpus Christi (Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)
10 July — The Massabki Martyrs
31 July — The 350 Martyrs
8 December — The Immaculate Conception
15–23 December — Christmas Novena
26 December — Praises to the Mother of God
