After successfully hosting our inaugural community wide St. Patrick’s Day celebration last year, I didn’t think it would be possible for it to get better, but I was wrong – it did. And that was made possible by the hard work and dedication of many, many people. But before I get into that, let me tell you a little bit about the event and provide you with some news clips so you can see the fun for yourself.
As the day got underway, we began our event on March 8 with a beautiful Mass concelebrated by our chaplain, Father E. Francis Kelly, along with Monsignor George Demuth, Monsignor John Louis, Father Joseph Weber, and Father Eugene Carr. Following Communion, Mr. Brendan Kearns, a friend of the Little Sisters and founder of the Kearns Drum and Pipe Band, provided Father Kelly with a relic of St. Patrick which Father used to provide a blessing upon the standing room only crowd decked out in a sea of Kelly green. After the Mass ended, the Kearns Drum and Pipe Band played classic Irish songs as the priests recessed from the chapel.
After Mass, it was time to eat and celebrate Scranton’s favorite holiday. As diners feasted on our kitchen’s traditional ham and cabbage dinner, they were treated to live entertainment including the Kearns Drum and Pipe Band, E.J. the D.J., and Irish step dancing by the Crossmolina School of Dance. Attendees also sold out our raffle ticket stand where they purchased chances to win over 50 theme baskets and gift certificates, and they also sold out our bake sale of the Little Sisters famous scones and baked goods courtesy of Premo’s Bakery, Wilkes-Barre, and our Association Jeanne Jugan members.
While we are so grateful for the hundreds of guests who visited our home that day, we are forever indebted to the countless sponsors and prize donors whose generosity provided the foundation for the event. Their names are listed in our official event program which you can access by clicking here. We are also so grateful to the volunteers, committee members, kitchen staff, and the UNICO Ladies Auxiliary who worked at the event and to the many media outlets who promoted it most especially Times-Shamrock, Lamar Advertising, and WNEP-TV 16. As you will see in the media clips, which you can access by clicking here and here, it really was a great day for the Irish and the Irish at heart! As they say at the University of Notre Dame . . . GO IRISH!
Until next time,
Jackie
