Question: When Is Ascension 2016?
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 2016.
Answer: Ascension Thursday falls on May 5, 2016, 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, May 8, 2016.
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.
For the date of both Ascension Thursday and Ascension Sunday in future years, see When Is Ascension?
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2016 Holidays FAQ Index
- When Is Epiphany 2016?
- When Is Mardi Gras 2016?
- When Is Ash Wednesday 2016?
- When Is Annunciation 2016?
- When Is Laetare Sunday 2016?
- When Is Palm Sunday 2016?
- When Is Holy Thursday 2016?
- When Is Good Friday 2016?
- When Is Easter 2016?
- When Is Divine Mercy Sunday 2016?
- When Is Ascension 2016?
- When Is Pentecost 2016?
- When Is Trinity Sunday 2016?
- When Is Corpus Christi 2016?
- When Is the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2016?
- When Is Transfiguration 2016?
- When Is Assumption 2016?
- When Is Halloween 2016?
- When Is All Saints Day 2016?
- When Is All Souls Day 2016?
- When Is the Feast of Christ the King 2016?
- When Is Thanksgiving Day 2016?
- When Is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 2016?
- When Is Christmas Day 2016?
