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These feasts can be celebrated on Sunday

Assumption of Mary

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Philip Kosloski - published on 08/15/21

Certain high-ranking feasts in the Church's calendar can be celebrated on Sundays, while others are bumped to the next day.

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In the Catholic Church, Sundays are usually celebrated according to the season of the liturgical year, such as Ordinary Time.

However, on certain occasions the seasonal Sunday celebration is replaced by a feast.

This doesn’t happen often, but it can when the following criteria are met.

  1. When a solemnity of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a saint falls on a Sunday.
  2. When a feast of the Lord falls on a Sunday (i.e. the Transfiguration).
  3. When the feast of a principal patron of the place, that is, the city or state falls on a Sunday.
  4. When the dedication of a particular church and its anniversary falls on a Sunday.
  5. When the solemnity of the title, or of the founder, or of the principal patron of a religious order or congregation falls on a Sunday.

To give a few examples, here are a few feasts and solemnities that can be celebrated on a Sunday.

  1. Presentation of the Lord (February 2)
  2. Saints Peter and Paul (June 29)
  3. Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6)
  4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
  5. Exaltation of the Cross (September 14)
  6. All Saints Day (November 1)

There are others not listed here, but this gives a brief survey of the various feasts in the Church’s year that are on fixed days. When that day is on a Sunday, it can replace the typical seasonal celebration.

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Devotions and FeastsLiturgy
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