Q: I am working at a parish that celebrated the dedication of its new church this year on April 6. ( Easter fell on March 31 in 2024 so the dedication took place on the Saturday within the Octave of Easter.) Of course, April 6 would normally occur during Lent or the Easter season so the anniversary could not be celebrated on or near its actual date.
I think I remember reading that the alternative date would be the Sunday before All Saints’ Day (October 26 in 2025, the 30th Sunday in OT). That makes some sense, although in reality, it feels odd/manufactured and would be a challenge to convince a parish community to celebrate the anniversary 6 months after the fact. (Kind of like celebrating your Christmas birthday in July!) Obviously having the Nov 1 and Nov 2 celebrations in close proximity to October 26 can add to complications in the parish calendar. A further complication is that the parish’s patronal feast day is November 4! Combining the celebrations does not feel right either.
Any insights as to how and when we might keep the dedication anniversary? Since the building is brand new, there would be some natural energy around celebrating the anniversary near its April 6 dedication date.
Your thoughts?
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A: Wonderful that you all are thinking about this anniversary.
On the Table of Liturgical Days, the anniversary of the dedication of a church ranks at #4b. It’s a solemnity. The Sundays of Lent and Easter take precedence, as do weekdays of Holy Week and the Easter Octave (#2). Otherwise, the anniversary bumps a Lent or Easter weekday.
If you need to move it, then you treat it like St. Joseph (March 19) or the Annunciation (March 25). It moves to the next open day on the calendar. In 2025, for example, you choose Monday, April 7, while others observe Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent.
Find more in my book Sacred Times.