We will have a special Mass schedule for the 7th and 8th in order to harmonize with the Saturday vigil schedule: Dec. 7: 6pm at Holy Family, 7:30pm Bilingual at Saint Paul; Dec. 8: 9am at Holy Family and 11am at Saint Paul. Please note that attendance at the 5pm vigil Mass for Sunday at Holy Family on December 8 cannot be used to fulfill both obligations, i.e. that of the Holy Day and that of Sunday. That said, it would be possible to fulfill both obligations by attending the Saturday vigil and an additional Mass at Saint Paul on the following day.
It is true that Mass attendance on Holy Days of Obligation is a Church discipline. Take a look at Matthew 16:13-20 and 18: 15-18 if you would like more information about the power Christ gave to the Church to bind and to loose.
Attendance at Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation normally binds under pain of mortal sin. Poor health or other serious reasons may excuse, but otherwise every Catholic should be at Mass on these days. Far from being a merely human precept, the obligation of Christians to gather to worship Almighty God on Sundays comes from Scripture. From the time of the apostles, Christians have interpreted the third commandment (keep holy the Sabbath) as appliying to Sunday, the day of the Resurrection. The letter to the Hebrews is very clear on this point, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." (Heb. 10:24-27) I hope to see you at Mass at least twice between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9.