The Second Vatican Council has said, "Pastors of souls should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and on the more solemn feasts. The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually."

For the whole history of the Church, it has been a custom that people would gather together and pray Psalms, Readings, Hymns, and Canticles, in what would become formalized later as the Liturgy of the Hours.

SUNDAY SOLEMN EVENING PRAYER AT SAINT MARY CHURCH HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.