Although it is considered one in Canada, it is not in the US, something about it falling on a Monday.
He did however encourage us to attend Mass regardless.
Yes, we were encouraged to attend Mass, too. Still, giving up Holy Days of Obligation makes the Church even more invisible in public. I remember in New York City they even used to suspend alternate side of the street parking for Holy Days!
Keeping the Church calendar separate from and superior to the secular calendar made a statement; adapting it to the secular work week and Federal mail service schedule also makes a statement. And it's not a positive one!