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St. Patty's, Holy Week Collide

Some Irish organizations reschedule parades from Palm Sunday; others stand firm

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2008 4:14 PM CST
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(Newser) – This year’s calendar sees St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) falling during the week preceding Easter, which has caused most organizers to move parades forward to avoid forcing Irish Catholics to choose between heritage and the church's Holy Week, the Boston Globe reports. South Boston planners, however, refused to reschedule the parade, which is still set for March 16, or Palm Sunday.

Boston officials say the afternoon parade will miss the noon Palm Sunday mass, but some states have moved their parades out of Holy Week altogether. A parade organizer for the Allied War Veterans of South Boston gave voice to the general resistance to a schedule change: "We won't be dictated to. … Our obligation is supporting the armed forces.”

Three young women greet New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani along the St. Patrick's Day parade route on New York's Fifth Avenue where his hometown supporters turned out in force in this March 17, 2000, file photo. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Three young women greet New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani along the St. Patrick's Day parade route on New York's Fifth Avenue where his hometown supporters turned out in force in this March 17, 2000,...   (Associated Press)
Then candidate for the Senate from New York, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, walks in an early St. Patrick's Day parade in the Queens borough of New York in this March 5, 2000 file photo. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff, File)
Then candidate for the Senate from New York, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, walks in an early St. Patrick's Day parade in the Queens borough of New York in this March 5, 2000 file photo. ...   (Associated Press)
Police Det. Steven Craig salutes the flag during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, March 24, 2007. Craig said this was to be his last parade after having had duty at them for 20 years. (AP Photo/Bob Child)
Police Det. Steven Craig salutes the flag during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, March 24, 2007. Craig said this was to be his last parade after having had duty at them for...   (Associated Press)
The Boston Police Gaelic Column is pictured above leads the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade in this 2004 file photo.
The Boston Police Gaelic Column is pictured above leads the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade in this 2004 file photo.
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'Cosmic kill-joy' isn't fazing South Boston organizers
Boston Herald

Philly moves its parade to March 9
Philadelphia Inquirer

Ohio's Irish Catholics face the same dilemma
Columbus Dispatch

 
Boston • Holy Week • St. Patrick's Day • Palm Sunday • Irish Catholicism • Irish Catholics

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