Bishop grants fasting dispensation for feast of St. Patrick

St. Patrick’s Chapel, Teevenacroaghy, Murrisk, Co. Mayo, Ireland, 2019 (Photo: Grant Whitty)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the important penitential elements of Lent is the obligation of abstinence from meat on Friday.  By this practice, we share in some small way in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

This year, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on Friday, March 17th.  For many of the faithful of eastern Washington, there is a spiritual and emotional connection with this 5th century Apostle of Ireland.  He is the patron saint for a number of our parishes and we have a long history of being served by the Irish clergy.

For these reasons, I have judged it would serve the spiritual good of the faithful to grant a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on March 17, 2023.  This dispensation applies to all the faithful of the Diocese of Spokane as well as any visitors who may be present in the diocese on that day.

In keeping with the spiritual contributions of St. Patrick, as well as the tone of the season of Lent, I encourage the faithful to attend Mass on St. Patrick’s Day and/or to undertake some act of charity or penance during the Second Week of Lent.

In Christ,

+Bishop Thomas A. Daly