Parade Day Mass A Festive Tradition At St. Cajetan

CHICAGO - Catholic parishes throughout the South Side of the city and nearby south suburbs are all closely connected to the South Side Irish Parade, but there's one in particular that has served as a bit of a "home turf" for the parade ever since it started in the neighborhood some 40 years ago.

And just like they have every year since 1981, St. Cajetan will host the official "Parade Mass" to be held on the morning of the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday, March 17 this year. This year's mass will begin at 9 a.m. and just like parade masses of years past will feature a more festive atmosphere than your usual Sunday morning service.

"This is the mass that is traditionally the one that's connected with the parade, although many other parishes have developed their own parade morning traditions," said Mary Beth Sheahan, a St. Cajetan parishioner and South Side Irish Parade Committee member who chairs the Parade Mass event this year. "The whole vision of this parade is for it to be a celebration of who we are, our Irish heritage, and our faith is a big part of our heritage."

Sheahan said the first noticeable difference at the Parade Mass from a typical Sunday morning at St. Cajetan is the attire of the congregation.

"People will be decked out in their finest Irish garb," Sheahan said. "Many people come to this mass and meet up with friends for brunch afterwards. They are often already dressed for the parade."

There will also be a more vibrant music component. Sheahan says a harpist, pianist, floutist, guitarist and violinist will provide the music, as will the St. Cajetan Children's Choir under the direction of Colleen Hart-Kozubowski, who Sheahan says is a longtime supporter of the parade.

The Irish theme of the mass will be immediately noticeable, Sheahan said.

Patty Homan, a guest vocalist from Ireland, will sing before the mass beginning at 8:30 a.m. Representatives from the Parade Grand Marshal (Honor Flight Chicago) and Parade Honoree (Choose Kind) will bring the offertory gifts and the beginning of the mass will feature a procession of colors with both the Irish and American flags by the Gaelic Fire Brigade.

"Pipes from the Emerald Society will pipe us in and pipe us out," Sheahan said. "We usually get a really large crowd with people engaging and singing. It's a beautiful celebration."

Every year, the mass is dedicated to the late parade co-founder and St. Cajetan parishioner Pat Coakley Sr.

Another interesting part of this year's Parade Mass will be the celebrant. Father Marty O'Donovan, who said the first ever Parade Mass back in 1981, will be back to say mass this year. Now at Saints Faith Home and Charity Catholic Parish in north suburban Winnetka, O'Donovan is a native South Sider who was pastor at St. Cajetan back when the parade mass tradition started.

It was O'Donovan and beloved songwriter and singer Terry McEldowney who organized the first ever parade mass 38 years ago.

"It has been tradition ever since," said Sheahan, crediting longtime St. Cajetan parishioner George Nedved for taking the lead on the event in most of the years since its debut.

The parade mass has become a symbol for not just the start of a great day, but the start of a great year as well.

"It's the mass of the year that people will linger, visit with each other and chat with each other long after the mass is over," Sheahan said. "We often see extended families meeting each other at the mass, which always gets people excited because it means we are putting winter behind us and starting to think about spring."

"It's a very social experience."