Dear Parishioners, We are now at the halfway point of August and the start of school is just a week or two away (depending on your district or school)! As you look on your calendar for Monday, August 15, some of you might automatically think that you need to go to Mass. We do celebrate the Assumption, but it is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year. I know this is always the confusing part of Holy Days in the United States, especially when they fall on a certain day of the week. If a Holy Day (such as the Assumption or All Saints) falls on a Saturday or Monday, it is still celebrated, but the obligation to attend Mass is not binding because of the day of the week. Other Holy Days are transferred to a Sunday (like the Ascension). Then you have Holy Days of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas which are always celebrated as Holy Days of Obligation-regardless of the day of the week. Confusing? (Most of the time it is). But you are always welcome to attend Mass on these days regardless if it is a Holy Day of Obligation or not. Keep your Catholic calendar handy to help you sort out all these things (or just read my column). Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark