Forgotten Solemnity

We human beings use calendars to organize our lives. The calendar with which we are most familiar is the January 1 through December 31 calendar, perhaps because it is the calendar used in most parts of the world, including here in the United States of America. It is called the Gregorian calendar because its use dates to the sixteenth century and Pope Gregory XIII, who made some changes to the calendar which was in use. This calendar is a solar calendar that includes twelve months, each with between 28 and 31 days. Of course, we cannot forget about leap years like we will have in 2024! 

There are other calendars that we use to organize our lives. School or academic year calendars help schools, colleges, and universities to organize their classes and activities and the students and their families to organize their involvement. The fiscal year calendar helps organize budgeting and tracking of income and expenses. 

Each of these calendars helps our parishes to organize our lives together. The January 1 through December 31 calendar is important because it is the main calendar used in our country and culture, and in many parts of the world. Our parishes use the school year or academic year calendar to organize faith formation opportunities for children and youth, and their families, though these opportunities are not limited to the school or academic year. Our parishes use the fiscal year calendar, July 1 through June 30, for purposes of budgeting and keeping track of income and expenses. However, there is another calendar that our parishes use that is more important than any of these calendars – the liturgical calendar. 

The liturgical calendar guides our life of prayer and worship together. The liturgical calendar is organized so that we may enter more deeply in “the whole mystery of Christ, unfolded through the cycle of the year.” (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n. 102) The Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar expresses it this way, “In fact, throughout the course of the year the Church unfolds the entire mystery of Christ and observes the birthdays of the Saints.” (n. 1) The Universal Norms also say, “In the cycle of the year, as she celebrates the mystery of Christ, the Church also venerates with a particular love the Blessed Mother of God, and proposes to the devotion of the faithful the Memorials of the Martyrs and other Saints.” (n. 1) 

Not every day in the liturgical calendar is of equal importance. From greater importance to lesser importance, there are Solemnities (the most important one being Easter!), Feasts (like the Presentation of the Lord!), Obligatory Memorials (must be celebrated – like St. Francis on October 4), Optional Memorials (may be celebrated – like St. Nicholas on December 6), and ferial days of Advent, Lent, and Ordinary Time. Many of the Solemnities are well known to us, but some of them are not as well known, even to the point that they are forgotten. Among these forgotten Solemnities is the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Parish Church. Forgotten no more! 

St. Ann Church in Hull was dedicated on July 25, 1915. Even though July 25 is the Feast of St. James, a Solemnity trumps a Feast! Since July 25 and the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Ann Church fall on a weekday this year, we also have the option of transferring the celebration to a nearby Sunday. Yes, the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Ann Church even trumps a Sunday in Ordinary Time. So, we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Ann Church at all Masses on July 22 and 23. 

The current St. Anthony of Padua Church in Cohasset was dedicated on October 17, 1964. Even though October 17 is the (Obligatory) Memorial of St. Ignatius, a Martyr from the early second century, a Solemnity trumps a Memorial! Since October 17 and the Anniversary of the Dedication of the current St. Anthony of Padua Church fall on a weekday this year, we also have the option of transferring the celebration to a nearby Sunday. Yes, the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Anthony of Padua Church even trumps a Sunday in Ordinary Time. So, we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Anthony of Padua Church at all Masses on October 14 and 15. 

The Preface used at the Mass for the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Parish Church helps us recall why the Church places a greater level of solemnity and importance on this anniversary. 

For in this visible house that you have let us build and where you never cease to show favor for the family on pilgrimage to you in this place, you wonderfully manifest and accomplish the mystery of your communion with us. Here you build up for yourself the temple that we are and cause your Church, spread throughout the world, to grow ever more and more as the Lord’s own Body, till she reaches her fullness in the vision of peace, the heavenly city of Jerusalem.