With effect from the 1st Sunday of Advent 2017, two holydays of obligation are being reinstated. This decision was made by the Bishops of England and Wales, and has been confirmed by the Holy See. The days are:
- The Epiphany of the Lord — 6 January (transferred to the adjacent Sunday when it falls on Saturday or Monday)
- The Ascension of the Lord — Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter
The Holydays of Obligation for England and Wales are therefore:
- Every Sunday
- Nativity of the Lord (25 December)
- Epiphany of the Lord (6 January*)
- Ascension of the Lord (Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter)
- St Peter & St Paul (29 June*)
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August*)
- All Saints (1 November*)
- According to a decision of the Bishops’ Conference (1984) Holydays which fall on Saturday or Monday are transferred to the Sunday.
The Bishops decided to retain the decision made in 2006 for the Body and Blood of the Lord to be transferred to Sunday as it allowed for Eucharistic Processions and other devotional practices to be celebrated.
For further information: