Is Ascension a Holy Day of Obligation?

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I know that in most ecclesiastical provinces of the United States, Ascension Thursday is transferred to the following Sunday. However, I am in the ecclesiastical province of Boston, so is today (Thursday, June 2, 2011) a Holy Day of Obligation? Thanks.

:highprayer: Joseph :highprayer:
 
JGMendes4049 said:
I know that in most ecclesiastical provinces of the United States, Ascension Thursday is transferred to the following Sunday. However, I am in the ecclesiastical province of Boston, so is today (Thursday, June 2, 2011) a Holy Day of Obligation? Thanks.

:highprayer: Joseph :highprayer:
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Yes, the six provinces in the U.S. where the Ascension is today and not transferred to Sunday are Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha.
 
It’s rather confusing isn’t It. all this messing with Holy days.

I was travelling between Ireland and Scotland a few years ago and in Ireland we have “Ascension Thursday” Sunday, while in Scotland we have Ascension Thursday. I didn’t realise this at the time though and I travelled from Ireland to Scotland on the Friday in-between and managed to completely miss the feast of the Ascension. I’m still not sure if I missed Mass or not:confused:
 
I’m in the Southwest USA and there is not a Holy Day today.

Who decides if there will be a Holy Day or not? And how do they make that decision?
 
OscarsMama said:
I’m in the Southwest USA and there is not a Holy Day today.

Who decides if there will be a Holy Day or not? And how do they make that decision?
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Ascension is a Holy Day no matter when it is celebrated**.**

However in some dioceses the obligation to attend Mass on that day (i.e. Thursday) is TRANSFERRED to the following Sunday. Since Sundays are always holy (i.e. holy days of obligation), Ascension celebrated on Sunday is (still) a Holy Day just as much as Ascension celebrated on Thursday.
 
Another ‘fast fact’ --certain Holy Days may have the obligation to attend Mass abrogated. . .which is ‘removed entirely.’ (with the presumption that this is not permanent.) In the U.S. if the Holy Days of All Saints, Assumption, or the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God fall on a Saturday or on a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass on those days, and those days only, is abrogated.

Doesn’t mean that the day is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation and, in fact, if next year it falls on a Tuesday, say. . .guess what --that day the obligation to attend Mass is NOT abrogated and you must attend.

Certain Holy Days must be observed whether they fall on a Saturday or Monday or not, such as Christmas and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so the obligation is never abrogated.

And for whoever asked --it is the bishop whose pastoral decision prevails. And it is possible that a bishop can ‘rescind’ a decision and if his diocese had formerly allowed a transfer of a Holy Day (like Ascension Thursday), he can go back to insisting that the day be observed on the Thursday. . .same as the U.K. bishops who once received an indult for their flock regarding abstinence on non-Lenten Fridays have now removed the indult and are about to require abstinence on all Fridays (the Universal Norm of the Church) once more starting this fall. . .
 
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