Traditionally, Catholics abstain from meat on Lenten Friday, when St. Patrick's Day occurs. There have been dispensations granted by several dioceses around the country.
Many places, including Boston, Washington, D.C., and both of the dioceses that serve New York City, have approved the Lenten exemption.
"The patron saint of our Archdiocese, St. Patrick, has a feast day this year, and it falls on a Friday during Lent.
Considering the significance of this feast in the lives of the Archdiocese and many Catholics, Cardinal Seán is allowing...
...anyone who choose to take advantage of this opportunity a dispensation from the Friday Lenten abstinence on March 17, 2023 "Boston's Archdiocese released a statement.
"This dispensation is valid only today."Catholics will be able to partake in traditional St. Patrick's Day fare like shepherd's pie and corned beef and cabbage thanks to the dispensation.
Similar edicts were issued by Catholic authorities in Houston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Cleveland, and Minneapolis.
Dioceses emphasised that Catholics who intend to consume meat on Friday should attend churches, engage in good deeds, and carry out other acts of penance to atone.
The archdiocese of Washington, D.C., recommended that Catholics who consume meat on St. Patrick's Day forego meat consumption on another day during Lent.
Chicago's Catholics were not granted a wide dispensation.
Instead, Catholics who find themselves at a St. Patrick's Day gathering where meat is served "may in good conscience substitute another kind..
..rule of abstention," the Archdiocese of Chicago said in a statement. "In any case, it's critical to take seriously the requirement to observe Fridays throughout Lent as a way to connect...
..with Jesus, who died on Good Friday. At this holy season, when we consider his cross-borne sacrifice for the salvation of the world, we must not undervalue that."
Today, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn made the announcement that there will be extra patrols over St. Patrick's Day.