St. Patrick’s Day Parade to Salute Catholic Schools of Archdiocese, Superintendent

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The 257th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with a nod to Catholic schools of the archdiocese and its superintendent, will step off Saturday, March 17, along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Spanning 44th Street to 79th Street, the parade, which begins at 11 a.m., honors St. Patrick, the patron of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York.

This year’s parade is dedicated to Catholic education and to the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Before the parade, Cardinal Dolan will celebrate Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 8:30 a.m. The homilist will be Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden, N.J., a former auxiliary bishop and vicar general of the Archdiocese of New York who was ordained a priest for the archdiocese in 1971. He was installed as bishop of Camden five years ago.

Leading the parade as grand marshal will be Loretta Brennan Glucksman, co-founder of Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, chair emeritus of the American Ireland Fund and a lifelong champion of Irish culture and causes.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, will serve as an aide-at-large to the grand marshal.

He will join 13 aides selected by the parade’s participating organizations in recognition of their outstanding service to the Irish-American Community of New York.

“The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has captivated my heart and made me feel special and hopeful as an Irish American girl from Allentown, Pa., ever since my parents took me to the parade on a fantastic road trip when I was in school,” Ms. Glucksman said in a statement.

“Over time, the parade has continued to grow in sheer numbers of people, as well as in its importance to individuals and families from all over the world who consider their roots in our beloved Ireland…

“On behalf of my big Irish family and friends, I am as honored as I am humbled to serve as Grand Marshal, and I know that my late parents, Bill and Kitty Brennan from Allentown, will be marching right along with me.”

The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Foundation has created the Cardinal Dolan Scholarships for students in New York archdiocesan schools.

Three partial scholarships will be awarded to students selected by the superintendent of schools for the archdiocese.

One scholarship will go to a high- performing student, another to an average student and a third to a special needs student.