Parish Patronal Feasts

[twf]

What are the norms governing the celebration of the parish patronal feast? I know that it can be celebrated as a solemnity, but must it? If transferred to the nearest Sunday, as I have seen in some parishes, is this essentially a special votive mass? At my local parish of St Edmund’s (St Edmund Rich specifically) they labelled last Sunday as the celebration of their parish feast, but used the propers of the regular Sunday with two extra hymns to St Edmund thrown in.

 

[FrDavid96]

It “may” be celebrated on a Sunday before/after. There is no requirement that it “must” be done.

Only because you asked: no, it would not be a “votive Mass.” The term simply means something different that doesn’t apply to the circumstances you’re asking about.

If you want the specific rules, because they vary according to exactly when the patronal feast falls in the calendar and what Sundays it can or cannot replace, see the General Instruction for the calendar. If you need the details, I’ll post them later.