Holy days of obligation are celebrations of the Church’s highest feasts and solemnities on which Catholics are required to attend Mass.
“The designation ‘holy day of obligation,’ tells us two things,” Father Andrew Hart, JCL, said in a 2022 interview. “First, it tells us that this particular day is especially important, or ‘holy,’ either because it commemorates a particular event in our salvation history or because it highlights a particular belief or mystery central to our faith. Second, it tells us that, in light of the day’s importance, we have the obligation on this day to worship and give thanks to God by attending holy Mass.”
Father Hart is adjutant judicial vicar for the Diocese of Little Rock Tribunal and theological consultant to Arkansas Catholic.
Here are all holy days of obligation, solemnities and other special celebrations for 2024 in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Note: All Sundays are holy days of obligation, whether they are specially mentioned on this list or not.
2024 Holy Days of Obligation
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Thursday, May 9: Ascension of Jesus
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Thursday, Aug. 15: Assumption of Mary, Solemnity
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Friday, Nov. 1: All Saints Day
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Wednesday, Dec. 25: The Birth of Our Lord, Christmas
Note: Jan. 1 and Dec. 8 are not holy days of obligation in 2024.
Solemnities and Other Special Celebrations
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Sunday, Jan. 7: Epiphany of the Lord, Solemnity
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Monday, Jan. 8: Baptism of the Lord
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Wednesday, Feb. 14: Ash Wednesday
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Tuesday, March 19: Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Monday, March 25: Annunciation of the Lord, Solemnity
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Sunday, March 24: Palm Sunday
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Thursday, March 28: Holy Thursday
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Friday, March 29: Good Friday
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Saturday, March 30: Holy Saturday
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Sunday, March 31: Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord, Solemnity
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Sunday, April 7: Divine Mercy Sunday
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Sunday, May 19: Pentecost Sunday, Solemnity
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Sunday, May 26: Most Holy Trinity, Solemnity
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Thursday, May 30: Corpus Christi, Solemnity
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Friday, June 7: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Solemnity
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Monday, June 24: Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Solemnity
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Saturday, June 29: Sts. Peter and Paul, Solemnity
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Saturday, Nov. 2: All Souls Day
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Sunday, Nov. 24: Solemnity of Christ the King
2024 Liturgical Seasons
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Dec. 3, 2023 – Jan. 8, 2024: Advent and Christmas
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Jan. 9 – Feb. 13: Ordinary Time
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Feb. 14 – May 19: Lent, Triduum and Easter
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May 20 – Nov. 30: Ordinary Time
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Dec. 1 – Jan. 12, 2025: Advent and Christmas
