Sydney celebrated St Patrick’s Day by filling city streets with a parade, the Domain with an all-day music festival, St Mary’s Cathedral for Mass and even Surry Hill’s parish hall for a dance.
Bishop Terence Brady celebrated the archdiocesan St Patrick’s Day Mass on the 17 March Solemnity, giving thanks in his homily for the saint’s faith and gift of social conscience that came with it, saying he was a “saint for all.”
Present were students of Sydney Catholic Schools and dignitaries including the Consul-General of Ireland in New South Wales Rosie Keane, Ireland’s Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee, and New South Wales Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill.
“It’s a great honour for me and indeed for the Irish community that our national day is celebrated here in St Mary’s Cathedral, a place that holds such historical and spiritual significance for the Irish community in this city,” said Keane addressing the congregation before Mass began.
“Being here this morning also gives me the opportunity to convey my deep gratitude to Bishop Brady for his unwavering support for the Irish community.
“I would like to ask you recall the mission of St Patrick, a mission which sought to bring people together, to foster peace and to build bridges across differences.
“This mission and the values it embodies holds profound meaning for us today and I would ask you to pay tribute to this legacy to doing all we can to in our own lives to defend these values, promote peace and treat each other with dignity and compassion.”
Parishes and schools celebrating the popular saint’s day included St Peter’s parish in Surry Hills, which again hosted its St Patrick’s Day dance.
On Sunday people dressed in every shade of green and slathered in sunscreen braved soaring temperatures for the annual St Patrick’s Day parade from Circular Quay from Martin Place followed by a festival in The Rocks.
In a message for the festival goers, Ireland’s President Michael Higgins sent words of appreciation for the “much-loved event.”
“I wish you every success as you join the celebration of Ireland where our 70 million-strong Irish diaspora joins with others in a shared love of our culture, heritage and history,” he wrote.
In the Domain, thousands of young Irish-Australians, Irish visitors and migrants joined the revelry at a first-time Misneach music festival.