Irish eyes and eyes of all cultures were smiling around the Diocese of Trenton as the feast of St. Patrick was celebrated with a host of festivities, parties and parades.


To see photo gallery on the Investiture Mass, click here.

To see photo gallery on the Belmar St. Patrick's Day parade, click here.

In Monmouth County, the spirituality of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was reverently recalled by the many who gathered for a Mass with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in St. Rose Church, Belmar, March 1. During the Mass, the Bishop invested John Sheridan and Mary Boyle Cerand Keaney who served as grand marshal and deputy grand marshal of the 41st annual Belmar and Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be held the following day.

Sheridan is a resident of Monroe Township while Keaney lives in Brick Township.

Homilist for the Mass was Father Joseph Desmond of the Diocese of Metuchen. In his homily, Father Desmond spoke on the rich Irish culture and the faith of the people who experienced much suffering and hardship in their history. He encouraged Catholics to be proud of their cultures then reminded them of their call to serve as evangelizers in proclaiming the Catholic faith.

The March 2 parade featured a long line of marchers that included several hundred groups, pipe bands and school marching bands, and floats that were cheered and admired by an estimated crowd of between 50,000 and 80,000 people.

Also walking in the parade and carrying a pro-life banner were members of the Monmouth Coastal Pro-Life Committee. For two decades, this long-time Jersey Shore group had hoisted life-affirming banners and marched in the Belmar and Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In Burlington County, marchers were stepping lively during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade held in downtown Mount Holly March 1. The parade route followed the length of High Street and continued to the “bottom of the hill” and ending at the Town Hall.

A Catholic presence was noted in the parade with a Blessed Mother float and members of the Legion of Mary participating.

According to Legion of Mary member Yodi Langan, it was the third year that the group joined in the Mount Holly parade and last year, the Blessed Mother float was recognized as the “best float.”

Langan noted that the Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church with members in almost every country in the world, totaling more than three million. The Legion of Mary was created in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921 and became active in the United States 10 years later, including in the Trenton Diocese. Works of Legionnaires include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, visits to hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, the newly baptized and homebound residents.

Langan said the Blessed Mother Mary float was made by the Trenton Comitium which is headed by Father Michael Burns, the diocesan Legion of Mary spiritual director, and pastor of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, who was assisted by assistance of the members of two “praesidia” – the Mother of Divine Grace Praesidium in Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, and The Most Holy Name of Mary Praesidium of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford. Praesidia are small groups of Catholics who work under the spiritual direction of a priest or deacon. Each group takes a name after one of the titles of the Blessed Mother.

Langan noted that the Legion of Mary was well represented at the parade with active and auxiliary members handing out religious prayer cards and Rosaries to the parade onlookers.