Office of Worship
 

MEMORANDUM

To:            Priests and Principals

From:        Fr. Martin J. Dobrzynski, director

                 Mr. Kristopher W. Seaman, associate director

Date:        11/19/2007

Re:            Holy Week and the Feasts of Saints Patrick and Joseph

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Some of you have probably realized that the Solemnity of Easter 2008 is almost the earliest it
can be.  Moreover, the Feasts of Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph fall during Holy Week in
2008.  As you know, the days of Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum rank the highest in the
liturgical calendar, thus taking precedence over both the feasts of Saint Patrick and Saint
Joseph.  The Conference of Irish Bishops received permission from the Holy See to transfer
the Feast of Saint Patrick to March 15 since it is the principal patron of the country.
However, in the Dioceses of the United States, the feast of Saint Joseph will be transferred
to Saturday, March 15, while the Feast of Saint Patrick will be suppressed liturgically.  Only
dioceses whose patron is Saint Patrick may observe the Feast as their Solemnity on Friday,
March 14.  What this means, is letting people know of the transfer of the feast of Saint
Joseph and that Saint Joseph tables would best be done during the week before Holy Week
in order for Holy Week to be a sacred time of preparation leading to the Paschal Triduum.