The seasons of the Church follow one universal liturgical calendar. The order of the year is as follows:
- Advent
Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar. It consists of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. - Christmas
In the Catholic Church, Christmas is more than one day - it is a season that begins on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Continues through the Feast of the Epiphany and includes the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Christmastide concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. - Lent
The forty days of Lent is reminiscent of Jesus' forty days in the desert. Lent is a season of repentance and renewal in solidarity with those preparing for the Sacrament of Initiation to be received at Easter. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and continues until the Mass of the Lord's Holy Supper on Holy Thursday. - Holy Week
Holy Week is the week before Easter Sunday, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Holy Saturday. Easter is not part of Holy Week, but rather the beginning of the Easter season of the Liturgical year. On Palm Sunday the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Into Jerusalem, riding a donkey, when the people laid palms before Him. To commemorate that day Palms are distributed to the faithful at Mass. The Triduum is the most important three days in the Liturgical year and it begins with Holy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper,) followed by Good Friday (commemorating Jesus' crucifiction and his earth on the cross), and ending with the Easter Vigil, celebrated at night on Holy Saturday, and when the unbaptized receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation) and are welcomed into the Catholic Church. - Easter
Alleluia - He is Risen! On Easter Sunday the church celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead and his victory over death. Christ's ascension into heaven is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter. Eastertide concludes at Pentecost, where Jesus send the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to spread the Gospel to all Nations. - Ordinary Time
The season of Ordinary Time explores Christ's mission and message through the Gospels. This season includes Trinity Sunday ( which celebrates God's self revelation as a Trinity of persons) and Corpus Christi (which celebrates the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist). Ordinary Times concludes with the Solemniity of Christ the King which brings the liturigical year to a close.
During the during the year, in addition to the Sunday worship, the Church also celebrates Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials which may be on any day of the week. These occur during the year to commemorate special events or persons that are highly revered by the Catholic Church.