Shamrock Shakes and Rivers Turned Green (03/17/2026)

The Irish claim this day, the Feast of St. Patrick, March 17^th. They wear the green and they turn everything they can green like the Chicago River and McDonald’s shakes. This past weekend, our parish Knights hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner with corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and soda bread. It was a huge hit. As I walked about, I saw everyone being “Irish” with their scarves, and jackets, and jewelry, their “belonging” was obvious. And I had to chuckle because at least half of them were German, Lithuanian, or Polish. But it didn’t matter. On St. Patty’s Day, everyone is Irish.

And I wondered that evening how the world could be different if all of us made a point of being as proud to be a Christian as we are of being Irish. What if we went about telling the stories, wearing the crosses, and talking about plans for the day that included prayer and service and work for unity – the unity Christ seeks for us all. Would we need a color? We could use red to remember the sacrifice our Savior paid for our redemption. Or we could use white to remember his swaddling clothes on Christmas and his burial cloths shed in the empty tomb on Easter.

How would the world be different if we were bold in proclaiming our faith and our heritage as members of the living Body of Christ? How would the world be different if we looked for Christ in everyone we met the way we try to see the Irish in others on March 17^th?

This day, as we continue our Lenten journeys of faith, hope and love, let us celebrate the feast of a great saint who taught us to love one another, even those who treat us poorly, and to go where we are sent for love of Christ. Let us look not only for the tell-tell signs of Irish like green scarves and green jackets, but let us look for the tell-tell signs of a follower of Christ:  perhaps a crucifix, perhaps a medal, but definitely humility, loving kindness, joy, and a willingness to share faith with others on the way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.