Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Much celebrating for many today. Do ONE less “celebratory act” to remind ourselves of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on Good Friday.
Click here for today’s reading.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
is a big deal in New York, Boston, Chicago and Savannah (Go figure that one out!). Did you know that the first Irish Associations in the Unites States founded in Boston and New York had among their original missions: “to help the needy?” Throughout the past century and to this day most major charitable events – Non-Catholic and Catholic alike – count Irish-Americans among the list of major donors. This year, the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade is dedicated to The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York as it celebrates its Centennial. This is so fitting because one son of Irish immigrants, Cardinal Hayes, earned the title, Cardinal of Charity, for his attention to growing Catholic Charities in the early part of the 20th century. The story of charity in New York can only be accurately told by paying tribute to the work of women religious, many of whom were the daughters of Irish immigrants. None of this can be accomplished without the discipline of self-sacrifice for the sake of helping others, either through direct personal service or through generous philanthropy.
