Holy Days of Obligation in England and Wales — 2027
Besides every Sunday, England and Wales observes 6 holy days of obligation, set by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales 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
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Saturday, December 25
The Epiphany of the Lord
Wednesday, January 6
The Ascension of the Lord
Thursday, May 6
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Tuesday, June 29
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday, August 15
All Saints
Monday, November 1 · observed Sunday, October 31
Falls on a Monday in 2027, so it is observed — and the obligation discharged — on Sunday, October 31.
How the rule works
By decision of the Bishops' Conference (1984, maintained 2017): a holy day falling on a Saturday is observed and the precept discharged on the following Sunday; falling on a Monday, on the preceding Sunday. The 2017 decree (approved by the Holy See, Prot. N. 180/17) restored Epiphany and the Ascension as days of obligation with effect from 3 December 2017.
Celebrated on Sunday in England and Wales
These solemnities are transferred to a Sunday, so they are covered by the ordinary Sunday obligation:
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) — Sunday, May 30. Permanently transferred to the Sunday after Trinity Sunday since 2006; not a separate day of obligation.
Not days of obligation in England and Wales
These feasts of canon 1246 are kept as solemnities on their dates, without a Mass obligation:
- Mary, the Holy Mother of God (1 January)
- The Immaculate Conception (8 December)
- Saint Joseph (19 March)
Fasting & abstinence in England and Wales
Since 16 September 2011, Catholics in England and Wales are asked to abstain from meat every Friday of the year as the shared act of Friday penance; those who do not eat meat abstain from another food. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence under the universal law (canons 1251-1252).
Abstinence binds from age 14; fasting binds from 18 to 59 (canons 1252, universal law).
The CBCEW Q&A states that failure to abstain on a particular Friday would not constitute a sin; the obligation binds as a serious pattern of practice.
Common questions
How many holy days of obligation are there in England and Wales in 2027?
Besides every Sunday, England and Wales observes 6 holy days of obligation. In 2027, the obligation to attend Mass binds on 6 of them.
Who sets the holy days of obligation in England and Wales?
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 Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
What are the fasting rules in England and Wales?
Since 16 September 2011, Catholics in England and Wales are asked to abstain from meat every Friday of the year as the shared act of Friday penance; those who do not eat meat abstain from another food. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence under the universal law (canons 1251-1252).
Rules verified against the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and vatican.va. Sources: http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Holydays.shtml · https://www.cbcew.org.uk/holydays-of-obligation-england-and-wales/ · http://familyofsites.bishopsconference.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/cbcew-decree-holydays-obligation-010917.pdf · https://www.cbcew.org.uk/catholic-witness-friday-penance/