Holy Days of Obligation 2027 by Country
The Catholic Year
Holy days of obligation differ by country and sometimes by diocese. This page currently covers the United States and England and Wales in the Latin Church. It does not claim to be a worldwide list. Sundays remain days of obligation.
United States: 2027
| Date | Celebration | Obligation note |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January | Mary, Mother of God | Obligatory |
| Thursday 6 May / Sunday 9 May | Ascension | Thursday in Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha and Philadelphia ecclesiastical provinces; Sunday elsewhere |
| Sunday 15 August | Assumption | Sunday obligation |
| Monday 1 November | All Saints | No obligation this year under the US complementary norm |
| Wednesday 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Obligatory |
| Saturday 25 December | Christmas | Obligatory; Sunday 26 December is a separate obligation |
England and Wales: 2027
| Date | Celebration |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 6 January | Epiphany |
| Thursday 6 May | Ascension |
| Tuesday 29 June | Saints Peter and Paul |
| Sunday 15 August | Assumption |
| Sunday 31 October | All Saints, transferred from Monday 1 November |
| Saturday 25 December | Christmas |
Malaysia and other countries
A verified 2027 diocesan calendar for Malaysia has not yet been established for this guide. Do not apply the US or England-and-Wales tables to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada or another country. Consult your parish or diocese; civil public-holiday calendars do not determine Catholic Mass obligations.
Frequently asked questions
Does attending Mass the previous evening count? Canon 1248 provides for fulfilling the obligation on the day itself or the preceding evening. Ask your parish which services are Masses and how to plan when two obligations fall on adjacent days.
What if I am sick or cannot get there? Serious reasons, including illness, can excuse attendance. Contact a priest for a personal uncertainty rather than treating this table as a judgment about your situation.
Are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday holy days of obligation? They are important days of prayer and penance, but not universal days of obligatory Mass attendance. Good Friday’s principal liturgy is not a Mass. Local fasting and abstinence rules are a separate matter.
See the major Catholic calendar dates for 2027
Sources and further reading
- USCCB: 2027 calendar and national notes
- St Werburgh’s Catholic Parish: England and Wales holy days
- Code of Canon Law: canons 1246–1248
Prepared by Catholic Repository. Sources checked 12 September 2026. A lay educational resource, not an official Church publication.