Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park

Christmas Day is known as a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. This means to technically qualify as a Catholic you must participate in the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass). Some people want to argue about this, particularly those who don't find Mass inspiring. But in really brief terms, Jesus did say: "Unless you eat my Body and drink my Blood you can not have eternal life" (quoted in John's gospel chapter 6:51ff) The Mass is the only means of fulfilling that requirement. So, by attending Mass you are saying to Jesus, "Yes! I want eternal life! I am going to receive Your life and energy and You will nourish me with Yourself!"

So, to those who ring each year and ask, "Do you have to go to Mass today? Is it a Holy Day of Obligation?" I usually respond as courteously as I can, "No, you don't have to go to Heaven if you don't want to.."