When Every Sunday Has a Cause: Protecting the Liturgical Year

 


One of the major drivers during the reformation was the sense that the liturgical year had become overrun with feast days, special masses, and saints' feasts. The continuous reading of Scripture that would match the season was constantly being interrupted. 

Something similar is happening now.

In the church there are 52 Sundays in a year and many of these days are being sought by groups to promote particular issues. In addition to the regular liturgical calendar and saints' feast days, in recent years there have been an increasing number of justice issues that churches are being asked to recognize at Sunday worship. These observances are generally optional, but they often come with liturgical resources, suggested readings, and thematic emphases that can overshadow the appointed lectionary texts. The purpose seems to be to promote awareness in the context of worship.  I want to present a sense of how extensive this could be. Around 30 of the 52 Sundays could be dedicated to such issues.

The following is a list of days churches are often asked to observe:

  1. National Indigenous Day of Prayer — June 21 or nearest Sunday
  2. Jerusalem & Holy Land Sunday — Seventh Sunday of Easter
  3. Refugee Sunday — Near June 20 (World Refugee Day)
  4. Truth & Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Sunday — Last Sunday of September
  5. Pride / Affirming Sunday — Typically in June (during Pride Month)
  1. Alongside Hope Sunday (PWRDF)— Parish‑chosen Sunday
  2. Mapping the Ground We Stand On Sunday — Parish‑chosen Sunday
  1. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Sunday — Sunday between Jan 18–25
  2. World Day of Prayer Sunday — First Friday in March (often observed nearest Sunday)
  3. World Food Day Sunday — Nearest Sunday to October 16
  4. World Day of Migrants & Refugees Sunday — Date set by Vatican (usually September)
  5. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Sunday — Nearest Sunday to March 21
  1. Environment Sunday — Nearest Sunday to June 5
  2. Season of Creation Sundays — Every Sunday from Sept 1 to Oct 4
  3. Earth Sunday — Nearest Sunday to April 22
  1. Social Justice Sunday — Variable (often fall)
  2. Healing & Reconciliation Sunday — Variable
  3. International Women’s Day Sunday — Nearest Sunday to March 8
  4. International Day of Peace Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Sept 21
  5. World AIDS Day Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Dec 1
  1. Homelessness & Housing Sunday — Often in November
  2. Mental Health Sunday — Variable
  3. Anti‑Human Trafficking Sunday — Variable
  4. International Day of Older Persons Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Oct 1
  5. International Day of Persons with Disabilities Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Dec 3
  6. International Day of the Girl Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Oct 11
  7. International Youth Day Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Aug 12
  8. World Health Day Sunday — Nearest Sunday to April 7
  9. International Day of Families Sunday — Nearest Sunday to May 15
  10. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Sunday — Nearest Sunday to Oct 17

The danger in not observing a particular issue is that one might be accused of being against such an issue. Which may be true, but that might not be the case.   I think these issues could find their place in the Prayers of the People, but I think these could be quite disruptive to the holy story if they are able to overtake the lectionary and liturgical season.  If issue‑based observances consistently overtake the lectionary and the liturgical seasons, the Church risks losing the very story that gives meaning to its justice work: the story of God’s saving acts, proclaimed week by week in the Scriptures and celebrated in the Sacraments.

 

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