Liturgical Calendar

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Every month of the year is dedicated to a mystery of the faith or special saint. Remember, every Sunday is a holy day of obligation.

JANUARY 2020 – Holy Name of Jesus

  • Jan. 1 (Wednesday) Mary Holy Mother of God
    • Solemnity; holy day of obligation
  • Jan. 6: Epiphany of the Lord
    • Observed on January 5
  • Jan. 18 - 25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
    • Diocesan observance (Statute 123§3.a)
  • Jan. 22 (Wednesday): National Day of Penance
    • Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral at 12:10pm - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
    • 47th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
      Anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. “In all dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when the 22nd falls on Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for the violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. (2000 GIRM, USCCB Adaptation, #373). The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 21 from “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.) (Statute 123 § 3b)
  • Jan. 23 (Thursday), 7:00 p.m. - Ecumenical Prayer Service, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
  • Jan. 25: Conversion of St. Paul (Feast)

FEBRUARY 2020 – The Holy Family

  • Feb. 2: Presentation of The Lord  (Feast)
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
  • Feb. 8, 5:00 p.m. - World Day of the Sick Mass (Cathedral)
  • Feb. 15, 11:00 a.m. - World Marriage Day Mass (Cathedral)
  • Feb. 22: Chair of St. Peter the Apostle (Feast)
  • Feb. 26: Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)
  • Feb. 29 & Mar. 1: Rites of Election

MARCH 2020 – St. Joseph

  • March 8 - Daylight Savings Time begins ("Spring forward" one hour)
  • March 11: Day of Penance
    • A day of penance for negative attitudes and discrimination toward people of differing culture, ethnicity and race; and prayer for unity in our diversity, for equality, mutual respect and peace among all peoples. Observed on the 2nd Wed. in March. (Statute 123 § 3c).
  • March 17 (Tuesday) - St. Patrick
    • Co-Patron of the Diocese of Sacramento, along with Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Statute 123 § 1b).
  • March 19 (Thursday) -  St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
  • March 25: The Annunciation (Solemnity)

APRIL 2020 – The Holy Eucharist

  • April 2 - Chrism Mass
  • April 5 - Palm Sunday (Holy Week begins)
  • April 9 - Holy Thursday
  • April 10 - Good Friday
  • April 11 - Easter Vigil (may begin any time after 8:10pm)
  • April 12 - Easter Sunday

MAY 2020 – The Blessed Virgin Mary

  • May 1: St Joseph the Worker
    • Time to bless tools and equipment for work.
  • May 3: World Day of Prayer for Vocations
  • May 10: Mother's Day
  • May 21 - Ascension Thursday (observed the following Sunday, May 24)
  • May 24: Ascension Sunday
  • May 30: Adult Confirmation - Vigil of Pentecost (Cathedral, Sacramento; Sacred Heart, Red Bluff)
  • May 31 - Pentecost

JUNE 2020 – Sacred Heart of Jesus

  • June 6: Ordination to the Priesthood (Cathedral)
  • June 19 (Friday): Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)
    • World day of prayer for the sanctification of priests
  • June 21: Father's Day
  • June 28: Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
    • Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (1889).

JULY 2020 – The Most Precious Blood

  • July 6: St. Maria Goretti - Memorial
    • A day of penance for sins and crimes against children and youth, including the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other members of the Church; and prayer for the needs of children. (Statute 123 § 3d).
  • July 14: St Kateri Tekakwitha - Memorial
  • July 25: St. James - Feast

AUGUST 2020 – The Immaculate Heart of Mary

  • Aug. 6 - Transfiguration of The Lord (Feast)
  • Aug. 7-15: Novena in honor of the Assumption of Mary
    • Devotion
  • Aug. 15 (Saturday) - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Solemnity; not a Holy Day of Obligation in 2020
  • Aug. 22: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Memorial

SEPTEMBER 2020 – Our Lady of Sorrows

  • Sept. 1: World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
  • Sept. 7: Labor Day
  • Sept. 8: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)
  • Sept. 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast)
  • Sept. 15: Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial)
  • Sept. 25-26: Ministry Days (St. Francis High School)
  • Sept. 27: World Day of Migrants and Refugees
  • Sept. 29: Saints Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels (Feast)

OCTOBER 2020 – The Rosary

  • Oct. 2: Guardian Angels (Memorial)
  • Oct. 4: St. Francis of Assisi (Memorial)
  • Oct. 18: World Mission Sunday

NOVEMBER 2020 – Holy Souls in Purgatory

  • Nov. 1: Daylight Savings Ends ("Fall back" one hour)
  • Nov. 1 (Sunday): All Saints - Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation
  • Nov. 2 (Monday) - Commemoration of All Faithful Departed (All Souls)
  • Nov. 1-7: National Vocation Awareness Week
  • Nov. 8 (Sunday): Adult Confirmation
    • St. Mary, Vacaville & St John the Baptist, Chico
  • Nov. 9: Dedication of Lateran Basilica in Rome (Feast)
  • Nov. 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)
  • Nov. 22: Solemnity of Christ the King (Last Sunday in Ordinary Time)
  • Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day
    • Diocesan Day of Thanksgiving for the harvest and all our blessings (Statute 123 § 2d).
  • Nov. 29: First Sunday of Advent

DECEMBER 2020 – Immaculate Conception

  • Dec. 8 (Tuesday) - Immaculate Conception
    • Patroness of the United States
    • Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation
  • Dec. 12 (Saturday) - Our Lady of Guadalupe
    • Co-Patron of the Diocese of Sacramento, along with St. Patrick. (Statute 123 § 1b).
  • Dec. 25 (Friday) - Nativity of The Lord
    • Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation
  • Dec. 27: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph