HOMILY
Saint Patrick’s Parade Day Mass –March 14, 2026
1 Peter 4:7b-11, Luke 5:1-11
Welcome to our cathedral! As always, I am so pleased to be a part of this gathering today with all of you who have taken the time to begin this Parade Day in Scranton in prayer, just as Saint Patrick would have wanted.
I’d like to recognize and welcome my brother priests and deacons, religious sisters, members of the parade committee and those being honored during today’s parade, representatives of Irish societies and organizations, our civic leaders and so many others. … On your behalf, I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank our health care workers and devoted public servants, police officers, fire fighters, first responders and so many who serve our community and our country so generously and selflessly. And we especially remember the brave men and women in our armed forces, many of whom are in harm’s way at this hour. Thank you for all that you do for us!
Finally, a very special welcome to Mayor Jarlath Munnelly and his delegation from our sister-city of Ballina in County Mayo. Welcome! Mayor, you should know that I will be leading a diocesan pilgrimage to Ireland this September, from the 20th to the 28th of that month. A lot of fellow-travelers are with us today and there’s still plenty of space available if you’re interested in participating in this wonderful opportunity. Our first stop in Ireland on September 21st will be in your city, where we hope to celebrate with you the roots and friendship that we share.
In planning for the pilgrimage, I spoke with a priest from Ireland who offered me some advice that I might want to consider during our trip. Typically, he placed his advice in the context of a story.
One Sunday in rural Ireland, a fierce storm rolled in just before Mass. The rain was lashing sideways, the wind howling and only one parishioner showed up – old Paddy. The priest looked out at the empty pews and said, “Well now, Paddy, it’s just the two of us. Should I even bother with the sermon?” Paddy scratched his head and said, “Father, I’m only a simple farmer. But if I go out to feed the cows and only one shows up… I still feed her.” So, the priest smiled and preached – and preached – and preached – for forty minutes, quite obviously pleased with himself and what he accomplished. At the end of Mass, the two men walked out of the church together. The priest put his arm around Paddy and proudly asked, “Well, Paddy, how was that sermon?” Paddy nodded thoughtfully and said, “Father, I’m only a simple farmer. Let me put it to you this way. When only one cow shows up… I don’t give her the whole bale.”
So, I’ll cut to the chase! We all know Saint Patrick’s story. He was kidnapped from Britain and enslaved in Ireland to serve as a shepherd – a brutal existence but one in and through which he was blessed to encounter God – deeply, profoundly and in a life-altering manner. And here’s the remarkable part and why we honor him as a saint today. After he escaped his slavery on the emerald isle and made his way back to his home and family, he chose in time to return to the land of his captivity – not for revenge but for redemption. He returned to preach the gospel of Jesus and to call the people of Ireland to discipleship of the Lord.
What is it, then, that Saint Patrick teaches us today, some fifteen centuries after he walked this earth? … First, just as God entered Patrick’s life as a poor shepherd, so God takes us as we are and uses us as his instruments of peace in building his Kingdom. … Patrick returned to the land of his persecutors, not filled with bitterness and resentment but with the spirit of forgiveness. The great saint’s example teaches us that we too are called to forgive one another – just as we seek forgiveness from God – the surest means for tearing down walls and building a world in which reconciliation and love abound. … And finally, in embracing God’s plan to preach to the people of Ireland, Patrick teaches us that authentic discipleship calls us to embrace the mission of the gospel in our service of our brothers and sisters – all of them – whomever they may be and from wherever they come, particularly new immigrants who come to our shores like our ancestors, seeking a life of peace and hope for themselves and their families.
In one of my favorite passages from Saint Patrick’s writings, he describes himself as a stone, lying in the mud, which God lifted up and placed at the very top of the wall. It was his understanding and acceptance of God’s mercy that allowed Saint Patrick to face every storm and every challenge in order to introduce those entrusted to his care to the love of God.
May we come to experience that love a bit more deeply this day. … May that same love sustain us amid these times that continue to challenge us and disrupt our peace. … May it remind us of our responsibility to care for one another. … And “may the great Saint Patrick guard you wherever you go – guide you in whatever you do – and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always.” Amen!