Churchgoers who would attend Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Masses need not attend separate Eucharistic celebrations on the same day for their Sunday Masses.
In Circular No. 2022-95 issued on Tuesday, December 20, Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila said the attendance for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Masses already count as Sunday Masses.
“The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) and the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (January 1) fall on a Sunday this year. Both are holy days of obligation in the Philippines. Those who participate in the Masses during these celebrations fulfill both obligations of Sunday and of the holy day of obligation,” read the circular.
The cardinal also said those who attend Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve anticipated evening Masses shall also meet both religious obligations.
“We decree that those who participate in the evening Masses of the eve of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (December 24) and the eve of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (December 31) likewise fulfill both obligations of Sunday and of the holy day of obligation,” Cardinal Advincula said.
The Catholic Church has declared several holy days of obligation, which include Christmas and New Year’s Day.
