By Christina Leslie |Staff Writer

Each March, Irish eyes smile and green shamrocks abound as towns throughout the nation brim with celebrations commemorating the life of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This year, 31 such celebrations of faith, fun and heritage are taking place throughout the month of March in New Jersey, 12 of them in the Diocese of Trenton.

To see photo gallery from the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ocean County, click here.

The area’s first, the 41st annual Belmar-Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade, kicked off March 1 at noon during one of this winter’s many snowstorms, or as parade organizers whimsically labeled the precipitation, “some white Irish mist.” Thousands of participants rolled, walked, high-stepped or marched in the town known as “the Irish Riviera” along a route which wound from Lake Como, continued down Belmar’s Main Street and ended its show of pride for the Emerald Isle on Fifth Avenue in the Monmouth County town. 

In addition to bagpipers, drummers, dancers and floats bearing multiple displays of Irish pride, the event had reflected its strong Catholic roots during a Mass held Feb. 28 in St. Rose Church, Belmar. Principal celebrant Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, invested parade grand marshal Paul Caverly and deputy grand marshal Jane Marie Zimmerman Donovan, as parishioners, visitors, the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians all prayed in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Caverly is a member of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, while Donovan is a member of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan.

The “wearing ‘o the green” festivities continued at St. Rose High School during the secondary school’s fifth annual Alumni Parade party. Erin O’Brien, development officer for the Belmar Catholic school, noted over 100 students and alumni were present at the event despite the weather. “We’re a hardy bunch,” O’Brien laughed, and continued, “We have grills going, and have snacks and hot chocolate. It’s a little ‘thank you’ for the alumni for all their support.” 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Seaside Heights, was the spiritual home of the Diocese’s second nod to the Irish: the 31st annual Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 7. Conventual Franciscan Father Bart A. Kawacki, pastor, celebrated the 10 a.m. Mass which preceded the noon parade kick-off. His priestly vestments, donated by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, had been fashioned at Kylemore Abbey in Ireland.

“Our parade is truly generational,” noted Mary Ellen Jacobs, secretary of the parade committee, as she described family members of multiple generations vying for a prime viewing location along the curbs to see Knights of Columbus, fire trucks, high school bands, Scouts, floats and all things Irish traverse the coastline of Seaside and Seaside Heights.

Generations of tradition was exhibited behind the scenes as well. Jacobs’ mother, Mary Kelly, began the parade with the singing of the Irish National Anthem as she had each year since its inception, her brother, Denis Kelly, served as chairman of the parade after a lifetime of contributions as a child, and a traditionally kelly-green banner used each year which depicted the Scottish saint and apostle of Ireland proudly led the way.

In addition to the Belmar-Lake Como and Seaside parades, upcoming displays of Irish heritage and pride in the Diocese were slated for: Asbury Park and Rumson, March 8; Matawan, March 13; Trenton and Hamilton, March 14; Freehold, March 15, and Highlands, Keyport and Robbinsville, March 21. The Burlington County parade in Mount Holly, originally due to kick off March 7, was rescheduled due to snow to March 29.

St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, parishioner Rep. Chris Smith (N.J.-04) was chosen as grand marshal of the Hamilton St. Patrick’s Day parade for his legislative support on human rights abuse in Northern Ireland. In an Op-Ed from his Congressional office, the co-chair of the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee on Irish Affairs detailed the life of the saint, who is revered for his faith, and remembered for his explanation of the Holy Trinity with the use of a simple shamrock.

“St. Patrick, born in 387 endured six years of slavery in Ireland as a child, yet went back after a daring escape to face unremitting danger and crushing setback only to persevere with an indomitable will to preach the good news of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sin and the way of salvation,” Smith said, noting he and wife Marie were the “happy beneficiaries of St. Patrick’s evangelization” due to their families’ Irish roots.

Noting the 2015 parade’s theme as “An Irish Salute to Human Rights,” Smith concluded, “The Gospel that St. Patrick taught comes with serious obligations to protect the weakest and most vulnerable.... perpetrators of violence must be held to account so peace and reconciliation can finally be fully achieved.”