This Sunday we celebrate The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King).  This feast marks the end of the Liturgical Year.  Next week we will begin an entirely new Liturgical Year with the First Sunday of Advent.  This past year we have been in Year “B” so this coming year we will begin Year “C”.  Our Sunday Liturgy runs on a three-year cycle, Years A, B, and C.  Each year centers on one of the Gospels.  Year A features Matthew, Year B is Mark and C is Luke.  The Gospel of John fills in parts of Year B (because  Mark is so short) as well as the Easter Season.

The Liturgical Year is made up of six seasons:

Advent-four weeks of preparation before the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Christmas-recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the peoples of the world.

Lent– A six week period of penance before Easter.

Sacred Pascal Triduum-The holiest “Three Days” of the Church’s year, where the Christian people recall the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Easter– 50 days of joyful celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit.

Ordinary Time-divided into two sections ( one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and another lasting about six months after Easter Time), wherein the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus’ teachings and works among his people.