Catholics that were hoping to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17 with corned beef, Shepherd’s pie and other meat dishes are getting special dispensation from Bishop David Zubik.
The head of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says that no member of the church has to use the dispensation, those who do are asked to “consider some additional act of Lenten discipline that day.”
The full letter reads:
Dear Faithful of the Church of Pittsburgh:
As we have begun the holy season of Lent, we have embarked on a journey that takes us to the great feast of Easter.
During these weeks, we have the opportunity to reflect on just how endless is God’s love for us and how generous is His mercy for us. Our Lenten resolutions should reflect the joy of both God’s love and His mercy.
While each of us has already begun our Lenten practices, there are others that we observe as the Church. One of those is the discipline to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent in addition to Ash Wednesday.
This year, the feast of Saint Patrick falls on a Friday. Given the great impact which Saint Patrick has made not only on the people of Ireland but especially in our own diocese, I have made the decision to dispense from the obligation of abstaining from meat on Friday, March 17. It is my hope that those who choose to avail themselves of the dispensation may do so in a spirit that reflects this holy season. Might
I suggest that those who take advantage of the dispensation consider some additional act of Lenten discipline on that day.
Please know that I am praying for all of you as we seek to become saints in our own day. In the words of the prayer used by the Church on the feast of this great missionary:
“O God, who chose the Bishop Saint Patrick, grant through his merits and intercession, that those who glory in the name of Christian may never cease to proclaim your wondrous deeds to all.”
May the words of that prayer be so for us during this Lenten season and beyond.