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 comes together as one, in sacred time, in order to worship and thank God for His graces to us. Accordingly, with pastoral care for the faithful, and in response to requests for an authoritative episcopal statement on Holy Days of Obligation in the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, I promulgate the following rules 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 commences the evening before the calendar day, so attending a Saturday Vigil (a Saturday evening Liturgy at which the liturgy for Sunday is celebrated) is counted as attendance at the Sunday celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Immovable Holy Days of Obligation
Attendance at the Divine Liturgy is obligatory for all Maronites on the following feast days (or corresponding vigil). These Holy Days of Obligation are to be observed on the day they fall, regardless of what day of the week, and hence are 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 satisfy their obligation by attending on the Sunday that follows.
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 may live, are encouraged, but not obliged, to sanctify these feasts by attending the Divine Liturgy at the pertinent 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 corresponding vigil). If the relevant parish is holding its major celebration of that feast on the following Sunday, those faithful may satisfy their obligation by attending on that Sunday. Only the relevant parish is allowed to celebrate the feast on the Sunday following.
19 March — Saint Joseph
23 March — Saint Rafqa
23 April — Saint George
3rd 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
All Maronites, wherever they may live, are encouraged, but not obliged, to sanctify these feasts by attending the Divine Liturgy at the pertinent Church.
Liturgical Celebrations at Which Attendance Is Highly Encouraged
We highly encourage the faithful to attend the Divine Liturgy and/or liturgical celebrations on the following days:
1 January — World Day of Peace, Circumcision of the Lord, 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 to the Harbour
Passion Wednesday — Rite of the Lamp
(Holy) Thursday of the Mysteries — Rite of the Washing of the Feet and Mass
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
