DIOCESE OF FRESNO

PASTORAL CENTER

155 NORTH FRESNO STREET FRESNO, CALIFORNIA  93703

TELEPHONE (559) 488-7400

From: Msgr. Ray Dreiling, V.G. 

Subject: Dispensation for abstaining from meat on Friday, March 17th, St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day, March 17th is on the 2nd Friday of Lent this year and questions are arising on how one can celebrate the festivities of the day honoring this great Saint of the Church and keep the common Lenten practice of abstaining from meat on the Friday's of Lent.

Sensitive to the needs of many within our Diocese whose tradition  it is to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a meal of corned beef and cabbage, any and all things Irish, any things that are green or made to be green, like eggs or beer; Bishop Ochoa has issued a dispensation from abstaining from meat on St. Patrick's Day. Bishop Ochoa encourages the faithful to exercise moderation and temperance so that honoring this Saint and our Lenten observance is not lost or obscured in their celebrations or festivities.

Let us remember and be thankful for his tireless efforts of preaching the good news of salvation first to the Irish people and then with time as it spread to other countries and people throughout the next 1700 years.

St. Patrick, pray for us!