MM APR 2026 Seasons+Celebrations bonus pages

Celebrating Faith and Culture

Parishes and schools across the Diocese of Trenton marked the Feast of St. Patrick March 17 with joyful celebrations that reflected both faith and heritage. From festive parish gatherings featuring Irish dance and music to Masses with bagpipes and prayers in the Irish language, the faithful came together in prayer and celebration. Students also joined in the celebrations, welcoming visiting musicians and experiencing Irish traditions firsthand.

Father Brian Woodrow, pastor of the Church of St. Dominic, Brick, poses with members of the D’Arcy School of Irish Dance during the parish’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 15. Facebook photo

Father Martin O’Reilly, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, celebrates a St. Patrick’s Day Mass March 15 in St. Mary’s Church, Bordentown. The annual Mass included the traditional bagpipes and Irish dancers. Courtesy photo

Members of the Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, Pipes and Drums march along 5th Avenue during the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 17. Facebook photo

Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, a retired priest of the Diocese of Trenton, offers a blessing during the March 17 Mass celebrated in the Irish language at St. Alphonsus Church, Hopewell, as the Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley and others gathered to mark the Feast of St. Patrick. Mike Ehrmann photo

A devotional display honoring St. Joseph and St. Patrick is arranged at St. Barnabas Parish in Bayville, marking the parish’s celebration of two of March’s most beloved saints. Facebook photo

Members of the St. Rose High School Pipe Band, Belmar, visit St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, on March 15, where the elementary students had the opportunity to try their hand at playing the drums. Facebook photo

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Each year on March 19, Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, protector of the family and patron of the universal Church and of workers. Parishes and schools in the Diocese honored the husband of the Virgin Mary and earthly father of Jesus Christ with special Masses and by creating traditional St. Joseph’s altars, also known as the St. Joseph’s Table or la tavola di San Giuseppe. The altars are often decorated with bread, pastries and other symbolic offerings, serve as expressions of gratitude and devotion. The photos here show some of the ways parishes observed St. Joseph’s Day. Facebook photos

Parishioners of St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, look on as Father Joseph Barbone, a parish weekend assistant, blesses the St. Joseph Table.

During Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph, parishioners of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and students from the parish school extend their hands as a blessing is bestowed on the Sisters of St. Joseph who reside and serve in the parish.

Father Stanley Lukaszewski blesses the sweet table that was set up for St. Joseph’s Day in the narthex of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square. Father Lukaszewski is a retired priest of the Diocese who serves as a weekend assistant in the parish.

A St. Joseph’s Table featuring breads, sweets and fruit, is shown in St. Pius X Parish, Forked River.

A statue of St. Joseph sits atop of a display of bread and fruit in Holy Assumption Church, Roebling, part of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown.

Father James Smith, pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, and Deacon John Scanlon distribute blessed bread to parishioners.

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