Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Middlesex County

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Restaurants and businesses across Middlesex County will be swimming in Kelly green, and perhaps flashing red and blue lights if people don’t behave themselves.

And devout Catholics may have to consult their parish priest before they dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

Here are some celebrations scheduled for the March 17 holiday:

• Saint Patrick's Day at Metuchen Elks Lodge, Metuchen
• Saint Patrick's Day 2023 at Barça City, New Brunswick
• St. Patrick's Day at Hailey's Harp and Pub, Metuchen
• 8th Annual St. Patrick's Day Bash, Tap and Growler Bar & Grill, Sayreville

Devout Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday.

But Catholics have been granted dispensation to dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage by the Diocese of Metuchen.

Bishop Checchio has commuted the penitential obligation on March 17 to the obligation to abstain from meat on another day that same week.

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