Transfer of the Solemnity of the Ascension of The Lord

The Latin-rite Diocesan Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Newark met in a Zoom call on Friday, March 23, 2022, to consider a proposal to permanently transfer the observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus from the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter to the following Sunday. You will recall that such a transfer was made in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

After a frank discussion, the bishops decided by a unanimous vote to transfer permanently the observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, effective this year. As a result, in 2022, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus will be celebrated in all the Latin-rite dioceses of New Jersey on Sunday, May 29, 2022, replacing the liturgical celebration and readings of the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The transfer also affects the celebration of the Liturgy of Hours. Thursday, May 26, 2022, becomes Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter (as well as the memorial of St. Philip Neri).

The Ecclesiastical Province of Newark now joins the practice of all the ecclesiastical provinces in the United States, except for Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. The bishops of New Jersey hope that the transfer will permit a greater number of Catholics to celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, which is an essential event in the great mystery of our Redemption.

If you have any questions, please contact the Worship Office at 973-497-4345.