Is the Ascension tomorrow? Is it Ascension Thursday or Ascension Sunday?

When Is Ascension 2011?


By Scott P. Richert , About.com Guide

Question: When Is Ascension 2011?

The Ascension of Our Lord, a holy day of obligation, celebrates the day that Christ, in the presence of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven. The Ascension occurred on the 40th day of Easter, so it falls on a Thursday, and thus is often called Ascension Thursday; however, in most dioceses in the United States, the celebration of the Ascension has been transferred to the following Sunday, six weeks after Easter 2011.

Answer: Ascension Thursday falls on June 2, 2011, and it will be celebrated on that day in the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and the state of Nebraska.

In all other dioceses of the United States, the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension is transferred to the following Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Since Ascension is a holy day of obligation, if you are unsure which day your diocese will celebrate it, you should check with your parish priest or your diocesan office.

>>>So in my home Archdiocese of New Orleans the Ascension is "transferred" to this Sunday.  The Ascension, being 40 days after the date celebrated for Easter always used to fall on a Thursday.  Now, the bishops allow this transfer which on the surface appears to be to accomodate those who can't make Mass during the week.  Of course with the Ascension being celebrated at the Sunday liturgy more of the faithful will receive catechesis on the Ascension.

I kind of wish it was still celebrated on Thursday!