Holy Days of Obligation in Canada — 2027
Besides every Sunday, Canada observes 2 holy days of obligation, set by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops with the approval of the Holy See. Here is each one with its 2027 date and whether the obligation binds this year.
The holy days in 2027
Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Friday, January 1
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Saturday, December 25
How the rule works
CCCB Decree No. 7: 'the holy days of obligation to be observed in Canada are: all Sundays of the year, Christmas Day, the Feast of Mary the Mother of God.' There is NO Saturday/Monday abrogation rule in Canada — January 1 and December 25 oblige in every year regardless of weekday. The other feasts of canon 1246 'will not be observed as holy days of obligation' (CCCB commentary).
Celebrated on Sunday in Canada
These solemnities are transferred to a Sunday, so they are covered by the ordinary Sunday obligation:
- The Epiphany of the Lord — Sunday, January 3. Transferred to Sunday by CCCB Decree No. 7 (1984, Holy See recognitio 1985); celebrated on the Sunday falling 2-8 January.
- The Ascension of the Lord — Sunday, May 9. Transferred to Sunday (the Seventh Sunday of Easter).
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) — Sunday, May 30. Transferred to the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
Not days of obligation in Canada
These feasts of canon 1246 are kept as solemnities on their dates, without a Mass obligation:
- The Assumption (15 August)
- All Saints (1 November)
- The Immaculate Conception (8 December)
- Saint Joseph (19 March)
- Saints Peter and Paul (29 June)
Fasting & abstinence in Canada
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. All Fridays of the year are days of abstinence, but Catholics in Canada may substitute special acts of charity or piety for abstinence from meat (CCCB Decree No. 8).
Abstinence binds from age 14; fasting binds from 18 to 59 (canons 1252, universal law).
Common questions
How many holy days of obligation are there in Canada in 2027?
Besides every Sunday, Canada observes 2 holy days of obligation. In 2027, the obligation to attend Mass binds on 2 of them.
Who sets the holy days of obligation in Canada?
Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law lists ten holy days for the universal Church, but each national bishops' conference may, with the approval of the Holy See, suppress some or transfer them to a Sunday. The list on this page follows the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
What are the fasting rules in Canada?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. All Fridays of the year are days of abstinence, but Catholics in Canada may substitute special acts of charity or piety for abstinence from meat (CCCB Decree No. 8).
Rules verified against the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and vatican.va. Sources: https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/184-292.pdf · https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ordo_Pastoral_Notes.pdf · https://www.cccb.ca/document/keeping-friday/ · https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann1244-1253_en.html