St Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day is Sunday, 17 March 2024 with Masses in Pymble and West Pymble.
St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is widely celebrated for his missionary work and for bringing Christianity to Ireland. St Patrick was born in Britain c.385, then part of the Roman Empire, and as a young man was captured by Irish pirates and sold into slavery. After six years in Ireland he escaped, returned to his family and trained for the priesthood in Gaul. In c.435 he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop. Through his work, Christianity flourished and the church in Ireland became organised.
Although not extensively learned, St Patrick was known for his sincerity and pastoral care, and was largely concerned with abolishing paganism and idolatry and encouraged monasticism. There are many legends about Ireland's most beloved saint, including his use of the shamrock for explaining the trinity, and his banishing of all snakes from Ireland.
St Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.