Join us as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be held on Monday, December 8, at 9 am, 12 Noon, and 7 pm.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important Marian feasts in the Catholic Church. It celebrates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin from the very first moment of her existence, by a unique grace from God. This doctrine, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854, affirms that Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Savior and thus prepared in a special way for her role in salvation history.
The feast emphasizes Mary’s purity and her complete openness to God’s will. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning Catholics are called to attend Mass and honor Mary’s special place in God’s plan. The Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus, but about Mary’s own conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.
Celebrating this day invites the faithful to reflect on God’s grace, the universality of salvation, and the example of humble obedience shown by Mary. It is an opportunity for the Church to seek Mary’s intercession and to strive for holiness in our own lives.