What are my Mass attendance obligations when Christmas falls on a Monday?
This year, Christmas is on a Monday. There are two obligations for Mass attendance: Sunday (the 4th Sunday of Advent) and Christmas. One Mass cannot serve as a fulfilment of the two obligations.

 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Masses at Holy Apostles will be celebrated on Saturday, December 23rd at 5pm, and Sunday, December 24th at 9am and 11am.

This year, the 4th Sunday of Advent falls on Christmas Eve. It is important to know these are two different Masses. As part of our Sunday obligation attending a weekend or Sunday Mass is obligatory (CCC 2042, Can. 1247).

 CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
Christmas Eve Masses at Holy Apostles will be celebrated on Sunday, December 24 at 7pm, 9pm, and 11pm.

Christmas Eve begins the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord, Christmas. This Mass is different from the Mass celebrated on the morning of the same day. In the morning, it was the Mass of the 4th Sunday of Advent, while the evening Masses will be Christmas Masses.

 CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas Day Mass, December 25, will be celebrated at 10am.

Christmas is a Holy Day of Obligation and thus, we are expected to attend and participate in the Eucharistic celebration of that day (CCC 2042). The Masses of Christmas Eve satisfy the obligation for Christmas Mass.

 As we begin our Advent journey, may the Spirit of Christ help us to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ.

 Have a grace-filled advent.

 Fr. Vitalis Onyeama

About the Author

Fr. Vitalis Onyeama, SMMM.

Fr. Vitalis is originally from Enugu State in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. He entered the Seminary in 1999 as a member of a religious Order: SMMM (Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy). He was ordained a priest in July 2010.

Father Vitalis served as the Secretary General of his Order and as the Spiritual Director and Chaplain to two Mission High Schools for five years. During this time, he assisted in Parishes around the city of Umuahia, Abia State. He also served as the Director of Communication to his Order for two years.

He came to the United States in April 2018. On arrival, he did Clinical Pastoral Education in Sacramento, CA. Fr. Vitalis started his mission in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise in December 2018, serving two and a half years as Parochial Vicar at St. Mark's Catholic Community Boise before being posted as the Pastor of Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Meridian in July 2021.

In his free time, Fr. V likes traveling, fishing, reading, and listening to music.

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