Posted March 17, 2015

See our photo gallery of the Mass celebrated Sunday, March 15 by Archbishop Charles Chaput at St. Patrick Church in Philadelphia, just a few blocks from where the annual parade stepped off in center city. Read full coverage of the festive day here. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

Emerald Society Pipe Band plays as the grand marshal and board members process in before Mass.

 

Mass at the venerable St. Patrick Church off Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia is as much a part of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance as the parade that followed.

Sheila Mullin and her granddaughter Ellie Mullin pray along with other faithful at the Mass.

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Archbishop Charles Chaput (right) prepares incense with the help of an altar server and St. Patrick’s pastor, Father Daniel Mackle, as Father Kevin Gallagher prepares to proclaim the Gospel at Mass.

Tucker Goschinski, left, and Thomas Howard from Roman Catholic High School’s Ancient Order of Hibernians group bring up the offertory gifts to Archbishop Chaput.

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Denise Peterson prays at Mass.

Concelebrants with Archbishop Chaput (center) are, from left: Father Kevin Gallagher, Msgr. Joseph McLoone and Father Joseph Kelley.

Grand Marshal Kathy McGee Burns receives Communion from Father Kevin Gallagher.

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Peter McLaughlin is decked in green from head to toe as he sings along during Mass.

Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipe and Drum band play for the crowd as the parade is about to start.

A leprechaun, a.k.a. Bob Nerch from Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in South Philadelphia, gives a lollipop to McKenna McIntosh from St. Alphonsus Parish, Maple Glen.

The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipe and Drum band.

AOH Division 22 struggles with the wind but it can’t keep them from smiling or their flags from flying.

The Emerald Society Pipe Band marches past the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

St. Patrick, his friends and the float of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union take up the theme of families during the parade.

It wouldn’t be a parade in Philadelphia without a string band.

The Irish eyes of the ladies of Divine Providence Village were smiling along the parade route.

Ryan Deuer of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Roseland, N.J., Diocese of Metuchen.

The Timoney Irish School of Dance waves the Irish flag proudly.

The Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia joins the parade.