Prayers and a Parade

Cardinal Dolan Is Grand Marshal as New York celebrates St. Patrick, the Irish

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St. Patrick’s Day in New York was a double celebration: it honored both the patron of the archdiocese and its archbishop. And if the statue of St. Patrick is partly obscured behind scaffolding as the cathedral renovation continues, there was no mistaking Cardinal Dolan in his scarlet biretta and sash as he made his exuberant trip up Fifth Avenue as grand marshal.

The cardinal smiled, laughed, swung his walking stick and waved enthusiastically to the crowds as he moved up the center of the avenue. Approaching the cathedral, he doffed his red hat and strode to the curb to greet other dignitaries and talk with reporters.

Earlier in the day, more subdued but no less joyful, he celebrated the annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass in the cathedral and stressed the spiritual significance of the day. He told the worshippers, “It is appropriate that we begin this feast day with…the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the prayer that has meant so much to the Irish.”

Auxiliary Bishop John O’Hara, director of strategic pastoral planning for the archdiocese, was the homilist. He spoke of the sacrifices that Irish people made—even risking their lives—to attend Mass in the days when it was forbidden by law. The bishop linked the faith to “the immigrant experience” of the Irish and the many other immigrant groups who still come to the United States to find freedom and to participate in the building up of the nation.

It was the third time in 20 years that an Archbishop of New York was chosen to serve as grand marshal. Cardinal John O’Connor received the honor in 1995, and Cardinal Edward Egan, who died on March 5, in 2002. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee makes the selection.

This year’s parade marked a controversial first: a gay group was permitted to march under its own banner: Out@NBCUniversal, whose members are gay and transgender. The group’s presence apparently drew little negative reaction from spectators.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral was filled for the early-morning Mass honoring its patron. Cardinal Dolan welcomed the bishops who concelebrated and the religious men and women who attended. He offered a salute to the men and women of the armed forces, with special mention of the 69th Regiment of New York, the famed “Fighting 69th, whose members attended the Mass and, as always, led the parade.

Bishop O’Hara, in his homily, told the story of what he called “a very special chalice” that is kept at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie: the MacSwiney Chalice, made in 1640 and presented to the seminary in 1908 by Father Edwin MacSweeny.

“It is a ‘Penal chalice,’ designed for easy concealment during the Penal Laws in Ireland,” Bishop O’Hara said. At that time, the practice of the Catholic faith was forbidden by law and could lead to execution, and priests were hunted men. The Penal chalice was constructed so that it could be taken apart into three pieces, which could then be hidden in pockets or a saddlebag to conceal its purpose.

“The priests who celebrated Mass with this chalice, and the folks who welcomed them into their homes, risked their homes, their farms and their lives just for the opportunity and privilege to pray the Mass one more time,” Bishop O’Hara said. “For some of them, it was for the last time.”

The civil powers “destroyed our churches, schools and seminaries,” the bishop continued, “but they couldn’t destroy the faith!...The more restrictive those Penal Laws became, the stronger the faith, which sustained our ancestors through hardship, injustice and famine, ultimately bringing them here to these shores.” Through it all, “it was the Eucharist that was at the very center of their lives,” he said.

Bishop O’Hara noted that waves of immigrants from other cultures are still coming to the United States.

“The American experience is formed and shaped by the immigrant experience, and that bond is indissoluble,” he said.

He added, “The Irish experience is forever wedded in an indissoluble bond with…our Catholic faith…It’s what empowered us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to and embrace the vision and promise of America.”

Cardinal Dolan used the MacSwiney Chalice at the Mass. After elevating the wine at the offertory, he kissed the chalice.

The first appearance of a gay group in the line of march occurred after years of attempts by gay organizations to march in the parade. They were denied on the ground that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a Catholic event and the gay way of life conflicts with Catholic teaching. Gay people have always been free to march in the parade, but only with another group that was marching, and not under a banner proclaiming membership in a gay organization.

The parade committee’s reversal drew criticism from those who saw it as compromising Catholic values, and praise from those who saw it as a gesture of inclusion and welcome.

Cardinal Dolan addressed the issue in his most recent CNY column, in which he said that he does not see the policy of including gay people as violating Catholic faith or morals. He said in part, “The Committee’s decision allows a group to publicize its identity, not promote actions contrary to the values of the Church.”

Parade spectators who spoke with CNY had mixed reactions.

Frank Dorritie said, “I think it’s a very good thing. I think it’s time for the Church to be inclusive. I realize it’s a controversial thing, but I think it’s time.” Dorritie grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan; he said that he used to march with Xavier every year. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Shirley; they were in New York to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary March 17.

Pauline Melillo was born in the city of Derry in County Derry, Ireland, and came to the United States 24 years ago. She lives in Livingston, N.J.

“If you’re Irish, you should be a part of this parade,” she said. She added, “I have nothing against the gays and lesbians. I have friends who are gays and lesbians. But I don’t think this is the platform for them. If you’re Irish, you should march. March as an Irish person.”

The parade was, as ever, colorful and filled with heart-stirring music from marching bands and kilted bagpipers. Irish dancers in elaborate dresses performed intricate steps. The New York City police and fire departments marched, with firefighters carrying the 343 American flags commemorating the fallen heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.

The mild, cloudy day had turned sunny when the grand marshal, still jubilant, returned to the cathedral steps after walking up Fifth Avenue. Asked what he’d been thinking of as he marched, he quipped, “When’s 79th Street coming?” and burst out laughing. Then he summed up the celebration: “Thank God for the weather, thank God for New York, thank God for being a Catholic, thank God for America, thank God for being Irish.”