Posted March 15, 2019

Since 1771, the city of Philadelphia has celebrated the feast of St. Patrick (March 17) with an annual parade.

Prior to this year’s parade on Sunday, March 10, the faithful gathered for a commemorative Mass at St. Patrick Parish in Philadelphia.

(Read our feature on Sean McMenamin, grand marshal of Philadelphia’s 2019 St. Patrick’s Day parade.)

Father Kevin Gallagher was the principal celebrant at the liturgy, which included music by the Emerald Society Pipe Band, as well as vocalists Karen Boyce McCollum and Frank Gallagher.

(All photos by Sarah Webb.)

  • The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band performs at a March 10 Mass prior to the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia.

  • Karen Boyce McCollum sings “The Soldiers Song” before Mass.

  • St. Patrick parishioner Kathy Gibson prays during the March 10 Mass.

  • Sister James Anne Feerick, I.H.M., chaplain of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association of Philadelphia, reads during the March 10 Mass.

  • The St. James High School Alumni Association Choir sings during the March 10 Mass.

  • The Honorable Edward J. Bradley leads the universal prayer during the March 10 Mass.

  • The grandchildren of parade grand marshal Sean McMenamin present the gifts at the March 10 Mass, as granddaughter Johanna Diehl places flowers before the Blessed Mother in memory of her grandmother.

  • Sarah Anthony from Immaculate Conception Parish in Jenkintown prays during the March 10 Mass.