Parade day kicks off with church service

PITTSTON — St. Patrick’s Parade day activities in Pittston opened on Saturday as they usually do, with a church service at St. John the Evangelist.

But in addition to spiritual encouragement, Rev. Joseph Elston provided a bit of St. Patrick’s humor as part of his sermon.

When he first came to Pittston, he said, he had been scheduled to go to a conference on the day of the parade — he declined.

When another priest asked him why he wasn’t going, he told him, “It’s parade day.”

His friend said, “So what?”

Elston told him, “If your a priest here on St. Patrick’s Day, you can’t leave Pittston. And in Pittston St. Patrick’s Day last from March 1 through the end of the month.”

Elston also took time to remind people that often people don’t realize the good that they do, as they are doing it.

St. Patrick, he said, was a missionary who sometimes struggled with finding God’s will.

“I bet he never realized that someday we’d be having a parade named after him,” Elston said.

Sisters-in-law Mary Leonard and Mary Clare Leonard make attending the service a tradition before each St. Patrick’s parade.

“Its a great way to start the day, I wish more people would do it,” both said.

The friends were heading out for breakfast after the service and then to find a spot to watch the parade.

“We’ve been doing the same thing since the parade started seven years ago,” Mary Clare said. “Its a great tradition.”

Julie Donahue, left, helps pin a corsage on her daughter and co-chair of the Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sarah Donahue, prior to the annual parade Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/web1_St.-Patrick-s-Day-Mass-2020-1_ne202037152057.jpgJulie Donahue, left, helps pin a corsage on her daughter and co-chair of the Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sarah Donahue, prior to the annual parade Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church.

Friendly Son’s of St. Patrick member, Bob Calpin, was one of the readers during the St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/web1_St.-Patrick-s-Day-Mass-2020-2_ne20203715209432.jpgFriendly Son’s of St. Patrick member, Bob Calpin, was one of the readers during the St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church.

St. Patrick’s Day co-chair Sarah Donahue does a reading during Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church with Rev. Joseph Elston, right, served as celebrant.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/web1_St.-Patrick-s-Day-Mass-2020-3_ne202037152016727.jpgSt. Patrick’s Day co-chair Sarah Donahue does a reading during Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church with Rev. Joseph Elston, right, served as celebrant.

The 2020 grand marshal of the annual Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, James Rooney, Pittston fire chief, and his wife, Mary Theresa, walk the gifts down the isle during Mass.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/web1_St.-Patrick-s-Day-Mass-2020-4_ne202037152023133.jpgThe 2020 grand marshal of the annual Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, James Rooney, Pittston fire chief, and his wife, Mary Theresa, walk the gifts down the isle during Mass.

Pittston City Fire Chief James Rooney, center, served at the 2020 grand marshal of the Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/web1_St.-Patrick-s-Day-Mass-2020-5_ne202037152030490.jpgPittston City Fire Chief James Rooney, center, served at the 2020 grand marshal of the Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade.