Early Holy Week prompts changes to

SALT LAKE CITY — Due to the fact that certain celebrations occur on dates that in 2008 fall during Holy Week and within the Octave of Easter, the Holy See has issued some changes to the 2008 Liturgical Calendar. Namely, in 2008 the Solemnity of St. Joseph (19 March) falls on Wednesday of Holy Week and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (25 March) on the Tuesday of the Octave of Easter. Therefore, it was established by the Holy See that in the year 2008, the Solemnity of St. Joseph will be celebrated on Saturday, March 15th, (the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday) and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord will be celebrated on March 31st ( Monday of the Second week of Easter).

Also, in 2008, the traditional Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) falls on the Monday of Holy Week. In most dioceses of the United States of America where the feast of Saint Patrick is commemorated as a non-obligatory memorial, the feast will not be commemorated liturgically this year. However, in those places where St. Patrick is the principal patron of a particular church and is customarily commemorated as a solemnity, the solemnity may be transferred to Friday, March 14.