Worship Office

The Office of Worship serves the Archbishop of San Francisco and the Archdiocese by providing leadership, support, and information services regarding matters pertaining to liturgy, prayer, and worship, particularly to ordained ministers and the laity in parishes and other Catholic communities.

The Office of Worship is responsible for:

Advising clergy, religious, and lay ministers in matters of liturgical norms, practices, and related pastoral issues (For inquires: please email worship@sfarch.org)
Preparing Archdiocesan Liturgies such as Ordinations, the Chrism Mass, Rite of Election, Archdiocesan Confirmations, Priest Funerals, and other large celebrations and rites (For inquires: please contact Jerry Sharp III at: worship@sfarch.org)
Providing workshops, classes, and programs regarding liturgy and public prayer (For inquires: please contact Jerry Sharp III at: worship@sfarch.org)

St. Mary’s Cathedral Youth Confirmation

(April 25, 2026 at 10am)

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on youth at the St. Mary’s Cathedral on April 25, 2026. This is intended for parishes or schools that have not scheduled a Confirmation Mass at their local parish this year.

Please note: Even if you have previously communicated with the Archbishop’s Office or the Office of Worship about this Confirmation in the past few months, you must still email worship@sfarch.org to obtain the online registration link. We are requesting an online administrative fee of $8 per Confirmandi to cover necessary liturgy costs and materials.

Registration for Archdiocesan Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion

In the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the Rite of Election (for the catechumens) is celebrated jointly with the Call to Continuing Conversion (for the candidates) during the first week of Lent. Then, throughout the remainder of Lent – which focuses on the need for ongoing conversion – the elect and candidates join with Catholics throughout the world in seeking to deepen their faith, grow in holiness, and strengthen their relationships with God and neighbor.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 @ 4:00PM. Attendance is mandatory for all catechumens.

NEW Order of Christian Initiation of Adults Published

The new Order of Christian Initiation of Adults has been published. Both English and Spanish are available.

This new ritual may begin to be used on December 1, 2024 (First Sunday of Advent) and its mandatory use starts on March 5, 2025 (Ash Wednesday). The old translation should no longer be used after this day.

Parishes may contact Sr. Celeste (ArbuckleC@sfarch.org) for ordering this new ritual.

Registers of Catechumens and those who are received into Full Communion

The new National Statutes for the Christian Initiation of Adults require pastors to record the information of catechumens and those who are received into full communion in special registers.
As recommended by the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship, such registers may be purchased from the following websites:

OCIA Register of Catechumens:
#R2 – O.C.I.A. Register of Catechumens
OCIA Register of Full Communion:
#R4 – O.C.I.A. Register of Full Communion

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION – 2026

1) HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION – 2026

The following solemnities will be observed as Holy Days of Obligation in 2026:

January 1, 2026: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (Thursday)
December 8, 2026: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Tuesday)
November 1, 2026: All Saints Day (Sunday)
December 25, 2026: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (Friday)

August 15, 2026, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Saturday. According to the
1992 general decree of the USCCB, the precept to attend Mass is dispensed when this solemnity falls on a
Saturday or a Monday. All the faithful are encouraged to attend mass on this day but are not obliged.

The Ascension of the Lord is observed on Sunday, May 17, 2026 for our Metropolitan Province, as
approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Congregation for Bishops.

2) SPECIAL FEASTS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE

In addition to the feasts inscribed in the Liturgical Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States,
all parishes in the Archdiocese should celebrate the following:

March 17, St. Patrick, Bishop, Principal Co-Patron of the Archdiocese: Solemnity.
May 5, Anniversary of Dedication of Metropolitan Cathedral: Feast in all parishes. Solemnity in the Cathedral.
July 5, Our Lady of Refuge, Patroness of the Californias: Memorial. NB: This is NOT observed in 2026 because it falls on a Sunday.
July 24, St. Francis, Solano, Priest: Memorial.
August 13, St. Emydius, Bishop, Martyr, Secondary Patron of the Archdiocese: Memorial.
October 4, St. Francis of Assisi, Religious, Principal Co-Patron of the Archdiocese: Solemnity.

3) SPECIAL DAYS OF PRAYER

The following dates have been designated as Special Days of Prayer for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

January 1: Day of Prayer for World Peace
January 22: Day of Prayer and Penance for Life (see below)
February 18: Day of Prayer for the General Needs of Humankind.
September 7: Day of Prayer for Human Rights and Labor (Labor Day)
November 26: Day of Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth (Thanksgiving Day)

The faithful of the Archdiocese are asked to observe these Special Days of Prayer in their devotions or other
private prayer, in the General Intercessions of the Mass and through the selection of other liturgically proper
prayers for the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours.

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 is observed as a particular Day of Prayer and
Penance for Life for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of
prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Giving Thanks to God
for the Gift of Human Life” or the Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”)
should be celebrated with the color of vestments corresponding to the appropriate liturgical observance for
this day. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373)

4) HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION (Explanation)

The following brief description of Holy Days of Obligation in the dioceses of the United States of America is
designed to provide some clarification. (Excerpted and adapted from the NCCB Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy
Newsletter, Volume XXXII, Sept. 1997.)

December 8 (The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is always a day of obligation.
December 25 (The Nativity of the Lord/Christmas) is always a day of obligation.
January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God),
August 15 (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and
November 1 (Solemnity of All Saints) are days of obligation only when they fall on
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
The Ascension of the Lord is observed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter for our Metropolitan Province as
approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Congregation for Bishops.

5) TIMES OF FEASTS

Some liturgical days call for the celebration to be held at a certain time. The following is a brief summary
of dates which have a time-specific nature to the celebration and should be used when planning your liturgies:

THURSDAY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The rubrics call for the celebration to be held “in the evening.” There is no specific definition for “evening”
in the GIRM or calendar of days; however, most definitions show that “evening” usually starts at, or following,
sunset.

FRIDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

The Missal states that the liturgy is to occur “on the afternoon of this day, about three o’clock.” Allowance is
given that for pastoral reasons “a later hour” can be chosen. So 3:00 p.m. or later would be appropriate.

The Roman Missal allows for an additional liturgical service with the permission of the diocesan bishop “if the
size or nature of a parish” would indicate the need for one. Archbishop Cordileone has indicated he will grant
permission for a second, later liturgy, particularly in our multi-lingual parishes.

THE EASTER VIGIL IN THE HOLY NIGHT

The Revised Roman Missal states: “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so
that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday.” Nightfall can be determined by various
calculations, and it changes from year to year as the date of Easter changes. The Office of Worship will send
out a memo at the beginning of the calendar year when the Archbishop has approved the earliest starting time
for the Easter Vigil.

6) ON THE CELEBRATION OF SACRAMENTS DURING LENT

Parishes often ask whether Masses in which children receive their First Communion can be scheduled during Lent.

While the great preference is that they NOT be scheduled during Lent, there are no explicit prohibitions against
this practice within the expressed liturgical law of the Church. At the same time, however, it should be noted that
the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has stated, “It is … appropriate that
children receive their First Communion on one or another of the Sundays of Easter.”¹

Additionally, the Church mandates that the faithful are obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once per year, during
the Easter season if not at another time during the year,² further indicating a customary association between the
reception of Holy Communion and the celebration of the Easter mysteries.

The season of Lent has a distinctly penitential and baptismal character.³ It is a period of purification and
enlightenment as it coincides with the immediate preparations for the Church’s celebrations of sacraments of initiation.⁴

The celebration and reception of the Most Holy Eucharist is the goal of the Catholic initiation sequence⁵.

At the chancery, we are not ignorant of the increasing demands on parish calendars that may require you to move First Communion
Masses to March or early April of 2026; however, we would ask that you give due consideration to:

promoting an ever greater spiritual observance of Lent in its authentic character among your people; and
giving priority in the parish calendar to these important sacramental celebrations taking place during the Easter season.

¹ “Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts,” 20 Feb 1988, no. 103.
² Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 920, §§1-2.
³ Cf. Second Vatican Council, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 109.
⁴ Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, no. 138.
⁵ Congregation for Divine Worship, Christian Initiation General Introduction, no. 2.

7) WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS ON SUNDAYS AND SOLEMNITIES

GIRM #372: Ritual Masses are connected to the celebration of certain Sacramentals. The use of a ritual mass
is prohibited on Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, on solemnities, on the days within the Octave of Easter, on the Commemoration
of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), on Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week, taking due account of the norms given in the
ritual books or in the Masses themselves.

GIRM #374: In cases of serious need or pastoral advantage, at the direction of the diocesan Bishop or with his permission,
an appropriate Mass may be celebrated on any day except solemnities, the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, days within the Octave of
Easter, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week.

GIRM #380: Among the Masses for the Dead, the Funeral Mass holds first place. It may be celebrated on any day except for
solemnities that are holy days of obligation, Holy Thursday, the Easter Triduum, and the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, with due
regard also for all the other requirements of the norm of the law.

#34 of the second edition of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony provides that:

Whenever Marriage is celebrated within Mass, the Ritual Mass “The Celebration of Marriage” is used with sacred vestments of the color
white or of a festive color. On those days listed in nos. 1-4 of the Table of Liturgical Days, however, the Mass of the day is used with
its own readings, with inclusion of the Nuptial Blessing, and, if appropriate, the proper formula for the final blessing.

If, however, during Christmas and Ordinary Time, the parish community participates in Sunday Mass during which Marriage is celebrated,
the Mass of the Sunday is used.

Nevertheless, since a Liturgy of the Word adapted for the celebration of Marriage has a great impact of handing on of catechesis about the
Sacrament itself and about the duties of the spouses, when the Mass “For the Celebration of Marriage” is not said, one of the readings may
be taken from the texts provided for the celebration of Marriage.