Liturgical Calendar

Solemnities in the Liturgical Calendar, 2008-2009

  • This page lists all of the upcoming solemnities and holy days for the 2007-2008 liturgical year. Be sure to check for updates on conflicting dates with Sunday Masses and weddings.

Guidelines for Holy Days and Solemnities

  • In the Liturgical Year there are certain days that rank as solemnities and as such have a privileged place in the liturgical calendar. This document offers guidelines on how these days are to be celebrated accordingly.

Liturgical Calendar of Saints Days

  • This document contains all of the saints days that have been added in the Universal Calendar of the recently revised Missale Romanum. Until the Missale Romanum is made available, utilize this guide for the liturgical celebrations of the saints days.
Liturgical Guidelines, Norms, and Policies
  1. Policies for Non-Liturgical Events in Churches
    This policy defines the necessary requirements that are needed to have non-liturgical events in Churches, Oratories, or Chapels. Along with definitions, the policy includes different scenarios and situations in which non-liturgical events are allowed and not allowed.
  2. Diocesan Policy Concerning Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rite

    The policy became effective for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in November, 1997 in response to the indult granted by the Holy See to the bishops of the United States regarding funeral rites with the cremated remains of the human body.
  3. Norms for Cremation Inside the Funeral Rite

    With the changes in the Rite of Christian Burial, allowing for the presence of cremated remains in churches during the Funeral Mass, this "question and answer" page addresses specifically why the changes have occurred and what is preferred by the Catholic Church.
  4. Liturgical Practices Against the Spread of Influenza

    This webpage is devoted to the importance of good hygiene practices everyone should be observing at Mass.
  5. Norms for Preaching by the Clergy

    When an ordained minister offers the homily, there are certain criteria that must be met because they are speaking in the name of the Church. That is why the United States bishops came together to produce this document on the norms for preaching in each diocese.
  6. Guidelines for the Reservation and Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist

    The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. This document explains the policies that the Diocese of Pittsburgh has set forth for the reservation, exposition, and adoration of the Eucharist.
  7. An Overview of the Celebration of Mass According to the GIRM, 2002

Checkout this comprehensive document on the Mass according to the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal. It diagrams both the previous and revised edition of the GIRM and highlights the changes.


Liturgical Aids and Supplements

Prayers Before the Most Blessed Sacrament

  • Planning a Holy Hour and looking for a prayer that pertains to the Eucharist? The following page is a compilation of various prayers and litanies devoted to the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Department for Worship Newsletter


2007 Winter Edition (PDF file - 730 KB / 747,705 bytes)

  • This edition of the Department for Worship Newsletter addresses the seasons of Lent and Easter, as well as information regarding the indult for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.