DECEMBER 2025

• English: As we commemorate Word AIDS Day today, may all persons suffering from HIV/AIDS and their loved ones be always treated with compassion and have access to all the care and support they need. We pray to the Lord.
• Spanish: Al conmemorar hoy el Día Mundial del SIDA, para que a todas las personas que sufren por el VIH/SIDA y a sus familiares y amigos se les trate siempre con compasión y para que tengan acceso a todo el cuidado y ayuda que necesitan. Oremos al Señor.

• Vestment: White
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted.
• Today is a solemnity. Incorporating incense, festive music, and a more formal Gospel procession is appropriate. 
• The Gloria is said or sung. 
• The Creed is recited. 
• Preface is proper and found on the pages in the missal for the Immaculate Conception.
• Solemn Blessing #1 or #15 may be used. 
• A Vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception is NOT celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 7. All Masses for Dec. 7 is celebrated as the 2nd Sunday of Advent. 

• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is omitted.
• Add the needs of pregnant women for the Universal Prayer; for sample intercessions see Book of Blessings, Chapter 1, Section 8. "Order for the Blessing of a Mother"
• In the United States, it is a feast day. Unlike in Mexico, today is a solemnity, thus the Gloria is said or sung, but the Creed is omitted during the mass.
• For access to the lectionary readings assigned to this feast day for the use in the United States. 
  • ENGLISH - Click here
  • Para las lecturas designadas en español, presione aquí
  • While the Mexican leccionario indicates three readings (1^st Reading: Zec 2:14-17; 2^nd Reading: Rev. 11; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47) for Dec. 12, here in the US there is only one reading before the Gospel since it is a Feast. In other words, at mass one of these two readings may be proclaimed Zec 2:14-17 or Rev. 11, followed by the Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia, and then one of the two options for the Gospel. This is indicated by the American Lectionary for Dec. 12 and the Ordo.
  • Mientras que el leccionario mexicano indica tres lecturas (1ª Lectura: Zac 2,14-17; 2ª Lectura: Apoc. 11; Evangelio: San Lucas 1,26-38 o San Lucas 1,39-47) para el 12 de diciembre, aquí en Estados Unidos solamente hay una lectura antes del Evangelio por tratarse de una Fiesta. En otras palabras, en la misa se puede proclamar una de estas dos lecturas, Zac 2,14-17 o Apoc 11, seguida del Salmo Responsorial, Aleluya, y luego una de las dos opciones para el Evangelio. Así lo indica el Leccionario Americano para el 12 de diciembre y el Ordo. 

• Liturgical Color: Rose or Violet
• The Gloria is not sung or said.
• Creed is recited.

• A Filipino tradition of 9-Day Novena of Masses in preparation for the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, the tradition is celebrated in the early morning before dawn (4am), but here in the United States, the Masses have been adapted to the evenings (7pm) to accommodate people who work.
• December 15 - 23 (Evening Masses) or 16-24 (Early Dawn Masses) Simbang Gabi Novena through the various parishes of the archdiocese.

• Second part of Advent begins. 
• The Advent weekdays from December 17-24 are intended as a direct preparation for Christmas (GNLY, no. 42). Memorials of Saints are observed only as Optional Memorials during this time (GNLY, no. 16b). Except where special devotion exists, the Seasonal Mass should be celebrated (see CSL, nos. 108 and 111; GNLY 56f). 
• The prayer texts and readings for Weekday Masses are taken from the specific calendar date.
• O Antiphons begin. 
• Preface II of Advent may be used beginning December 17

• The Gloria is not sung. 
• Creed is recited.
• Preface II of Advent is used.
• Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent start at 4PM on Saturday, December 20.

Christmas Masses

• Vestments: White/Gold
• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is recited. Remind the assembly to kneel at the words “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate.” 
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord (#2) may be used. 
• Blessing of the Nativity Scene can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 48 
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 49.
• There are four mass settings (proper antiphons, readings, and orations) for the Solemnity of the Nativity.The Roman Missal contains four Mass settings for the Nativity of Jesus:
  • 1) at the Vigil Mass,
  • 2) at the Mass during the Night,
  • 3) at the Mass at Dawn, and
  • 4) at the Mass during the Day.
• The Lectionary for Mass likewise has four sets of readings. While Mass formularies ought to correspond to the actual time of day or night, there is greater flexibility for choosing the readings. The Lectionary for Mass indicates that the first set of readings for Mass at the Vigil “may also be used for Masses on Christmas Day, with the option of choosing from one or other of the three sets of readings according to the pastoral needs of each congregation” (rubric from the Lectionary for Mass, 13).
• Christmas and its Octave center on the great truth of the Incarnation: God loves us and sent his Son to be one of us that we might believe and love and have eternal life (see John 3.15-16; GNLY, nos. 32-37).
• The Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord continues the Christmas cycle celebrating the ways in which God’s love is manifested or revealed to us through his Son, Jesus. The Christmas Season ends with the Feast of The Baptism of the Lord and Ordinary Time begins.

• Anticipated Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ start at 4:00PM at the earliest. 

• The Christmas proclamation should be sung before the Mass during the Night begins. The text is found in Appendix I of the Roman Missal. The entrance song immediately follows the chant.

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is said or sung
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used to unify the days of the octave.

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used.
• Please include the following petition as part of the universal prayers: 
  • English: For the faculty, staff and seminarians of Saint John seminary, that they may continue to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, we pray to the Lord.
  • Español: Por la facultad universitaria, el personal y los seminaristas en el seminario de San Juan, para que puedan continuar creciendo como discípulos de Jesucristo, roguemos al Señor. 

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Solemn Blessing #2, #3, or Prayer over the people #25 may be used. 
• Blessing of a Family (see Book of Blessings, Ch. 1)

• Blessing of the New Year (see Catholic Household Book of Blessings and Prayers, 85-87)

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Please see the letter below regarding January 1, 2026 - Mary, Mother of God - Dispensation Letter from Archbishop Jose Gomez.