Hi, Nancy —

Thanks for the question.

Whoever told you it was a sin was wrong.

If working during Holy Week, (whether on Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday,
Holy Saturday, or whatever other day) is a sin then:

• police officers
• nurses
• doctors
• and similar occupations required for the basic good of society would be sinning in order to do their job.
  

If the teacher has given you homework there is no reason why you shouldn't do it.

The Church encourages everyone to participate in the services that the local parish offers during Lent and especially during Holy Week but the six Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are:

1. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
2. Ascension of the Lord (only in the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia; the others have transferred this celebration to the following Sunday)
3. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
4. All Saints' Day
5. Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and
6. Christmas

I do find it strange that the only Holy Day of Obligation during Holy Week is Easter and that one can be in good standing with the Church and not attend:

• Ash Wednesday services
• Holy Thursday services or
• Good Friday Service
  

Maybe Fr. Jonathan has an opinion on this last comment.

I hope this helps,

Mike

Hi, Mike —

That's just the way it has always been in my lifetime at least.
Going to those services is a privilege and not an obligation.

Fr. Jonathan