St. Patrick’s Day co-chair Sarah Donahue gives a reading during Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church with Fr. Elston, right, serving as celebrant during a previous year’s St. Patrick’s celebration.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON — It’s that time of the year when everything is green, and the Irish get to shine.
On March 1, everyone in Pittston is Irish and for the 12th time, the Annual St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on Main St. where as many as seven divisions made up of over 90-units.
The parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. after the completion of the Leprechaun Loop 5K Run/1-Mile Walk.
This year, P.J. Adonizio, owner of the Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home, will serve as the grand marshal of the parade.
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to put on a parade that rivals the City of Scranton’s St. Patrick’s Parade as well as the City of Wilkes-Barre, but the Pittston St. Patrick’s Parade committee led by Donahue and others, put on a great parade for Greater Pittston.
“Our committee has been working very hard fundraising to be able to put on a really nice 12th Annual Parade,” Donahue added. “I can’t believe it’s been 12 years. It’s not going to rain this year, I had a long chat with Mother Nature.”
The City of Pittston will hope Donahue is right, but come rain or shine, the parade will go on.
In past years, the parade enjoyed as many as five Irish pipes and drum bands and several Irish Step Dance troupes.
Donahue reminds everyone there would be a Mass of Thanksgiving honoring St. Patrick held at St. John the Evangelist Church, William St., at 8:30 a.m. celebrated by Fr. Joseph Elston.
She encourages everyone to attend Mass honoring St. Patrick.
According to City of Pittston Chief of Police Kyle Shumosic, the streets will be shut down at 10 a.m. on parade day.
