Posted March 16, 2017

The St. Patrick’s Day festivities ahead of the saint’s March 17 feast day took place Sunday, March 12 in Philadelphia as Archbishop Charles J. Chaput was the main celebrant and homilist at a morning Mass at St. Patrick Church in Rittenhouse Square.

Concelebrants of the Mass includes Father Kevin J. Gallagher, pastor of St. Dennis Parish in Havertown (Delaware County), as well as other priests in the archdiocese. The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band led a procession from St. Patrick’s rectory to the church at 9 a.m.

Following Mass, Father Gallagher and Sister James Anne Feerick, I.H.M., served as parade chaplains and were joined by hundreds of marchers in the 247th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The theme was “St. Patrick, Protect and Guide our Police Officers.” (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Some of Philadelphia’s finest men and women in blue — prayer for police officers in the region was a theme of the St. Patrick’s Day parade — march in the parade.

  • Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes & Drums adds sound and color to the festivities.

  • The youngest members of Cairdeas Irish Brigade carry the banner for their organization.

  • The Bishop Shanahan Marching Band traveled from the Downingtown archdiocesan high school to march in the parade.

  • Kassy Durkin, a member of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Philadelphia and a retired police officer, proudly holds the flag honoring police officers.

  • Second Street Irish Society Pipes and Drums

  • Cardinal O’Hara Marching Band

  • Cardinal O’Hara High School students proudly perform in the St. Patrick Day Parade.

  • Members of the Nicholl School of Irish Dance showed off their moves.

  • Brigid Gallagher from Rose of Tralee waves to those attending the parade.

  • Fralinger String Band

  • John Patrick Stanton was remembered with a photo on the front of the truck leading a group from the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia.

  • Grand Marshal Barney Boyce proudly rides in the parade.

  • Several police officers were among the ring of honor for the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade where the theme was “Protect and Guide Our Police Officers.”

  • Prime Minister Enda Kenny of Ireland (left) and parade Grand Marshal Barney Boyce (right) look on for the opening procession of the St. Patrick Day Mass.

  • Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny pauses for the singing of the national anthems of the United States and Ireland.

  • Father Kevin Gallagher, chaplin, distributes holy communion to Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

  • Irish dignitaries pray during Mass.

  • Archbishop Charles Chaput and other priests celebrate Mass at St. Patrick church in Philadelphia preceding the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day parade. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Alyssa Lamberti from St. Cecilia Parish in Philadelphia is decked out in a handmade Irish sweater and hat for the day’s celebrations.

  • Cairdeas Irish Brigade

  • John Cooke, president of Bonnor-Prendergast High School and a parishioner of St. Dorothy in Drexel Hill, dresses up with his son to march in the parade.

  • Students from Archbishop Ryan High School proudly march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

  • Bishop Shanahan High School’s band put the crowd in a festive mood.

  • Nace Mullen from Old St. Mary Church in Philadelphia is decked out in his Irish best to march in the parade.

  • Father Kevin Gallagher, parade chaplain, incenses the book of Gospels during Mass at St. Patrick Church preceding the parade.

  • Sister James Anne Frank, I.H.M., parade chaplain, reads from Scripture during the Mass observing St. Patrick’s Day.

  • Father John Mokluk, O.S.F.S. (center), was one of many in attendance at the Mass that preceded the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

  • Grand Marshal Barney Boyce

  • Members of the Ring of Honor attend the Mass at St. Patrick Church in Rittenhouse Square.

  • Nolan Hannigan, from St. Dominic Parish in Philadelphia, marches with the McSwineey Club out of Jenkintown.

  • The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band plays for the procession of the the grand marshal.

  • The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band leads the grand marshal into church before Mass.

  • St. James Alumni Association

  • A moment is taken to honor fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. The theme of the parade was “Protect and Guide Our Police Officers.”

  • The St. Thomas More mascot is all thumbs up for the parade.

  • Donegal Society of Philadelphia

  • Irish President William P. Ivers marches with Prime Minister Enda Kenny and other civic dignitaries from Ireland.

  • Celtic Flame dancers shiver in their dresses as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade went down as one of the coldest in recent memory.