St. Patrick's Day

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“The Son cannot do anything on his own but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also...”

On St. Patrick’s Day, I think of my parents. Irish immigrants both, St. Patrick’s Day was a big day in our house. We rarely missed the 5th Avenue parade and many times joined the Mayo Club marchers. Dinner was tenderloin, boiled potatoes and cabbage. Irish music, not often played in our house, blared from the turntable. The Clancy Brothers were a staple.

We kept St. Patrick’s Day holy (it is a holy day of obligation in Ireland) and I remember my parents being bothered by the day’s association with drinking. They were the most American of Irish people but on this day, often railed against the Irish Americanism that reinforced negative stereotypes.

In our home we try to keep the day quiet, in a way that honors my late parents and our heritage. Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Erin go Bragh!

J. Christopher Mangan, SFC ’83

St. Francis College Board of Trustees