In honor of the Apostle and Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, whose liturgical commemoration on March 17 falls on a Friday in Lent this year, Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. grants a dispensation from the requirement of abstaining from meat on that day. Since our current penitential practices are rather minimal, the bishop suggests either substituting another day of that week to abstain from meat, or substituting an act of charity on Saint Patrick’s Day.