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April 3, 2025Long-time parishioner Celeste Kreb served up Irish meatballs – three varieties – drawing long lines that offered little rest in the booth situated just outside the parish hall at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.
Nearby, children filled the air with waves of laughter as they played games for prizes amid a scene littered with more booths offering delectable dishes ranging from corned beef to tamales and churros, representing Guatemalan, Mexican, and, of course, Irish cuisines.
It was Saint Patrick’s Day at Saint Patrick, where the church’s patron saint feast “day” actually spilled across three days.
The parish participated in the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Stockyards City on Saturday, March 15. On Sunday, Fathers Joseph Arledge and Boniface Copelin celebrated Masses in English and Spanish, before the church held its festival in honor of its patron. Monday featured Mass celebrating the actual Saint Patrick’s Day.
“The parish is just shy of 75 years old and this festival, thanks to Father Joe, has been going strong for the past three years he has been here,” said Florence Daugomah, media coordinator at Saint Patrick. “It’s been amazing to see the turnout, especially from our Hispanic community.”
Preceding the six-hour festival, Mass began with the unusual, yet joyous, sound of bagpipes bursting through the silence. While bagpipes are famously associated with Scotland, they are an important part of Irish culture as well.
Father Arledge discussed the significance of honoring and imitating the life of Saint Patrick during his homily.
“In Saint Patrick’s book, known as ‘The Confession of Saint Patrick,’ he begins with a simple yet profound remark,” Father Arledge said. “He says, ‘My name is Patrick and I am a sinner.’”
Father’s theme for this year’s festival was the practice of “arising every day in the Blessed Trinity.” He continued by stressing how the famous prayer known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate serves as a simple reminder of God’s presence in daily living.
The conclusion of Mass featured parishioners joining Father Arledge in the final prayers of a novena to Saint Patrick, then a procession led by a bagpiper and members of the O’klahoma Irish Heritage Society. Converging at Saint Patrick’s statue outside the church, attendees were officially welcomed to the Saint Patrick Festival by Father Arledge, who expressed gratitude for volunteers and organizers of the event.
What transpired over the next several hours showed the expression of faith in the people who call Saint Patrick Catholic Church their parish home.
There was live music, primarily of Irish and Hispanic styling, adding a festive element to the day’s activities. Seating areas for individuals to relax and enjoy both food and music were plentiful, with Father Arledge’s parents among the many couples who sat near the stage, taking in the sights and sounds.
Before being dedicated in 1962, the parish church was designed and built by parishioners. The physical church stands today as a testament of the parish’s rich history. A beacon of faith in Oklahoma City, Saint Patrick Catholic Church serves as a physical embodiment of their patron’s ministerial simplicity. Much like Saint Patrick’s use of a shamrock to explain the Blessed Trinity, Saint Patrick Church is considered a simple community of faith, capable of extraordinary things.
The festival captures that, celebrating Saint Patrick, a patron saint with a celebration like no other.
Emma Bowman is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: (Above) Fr. Joseph Arledge joined children who were victorious at the games booth. Photo Emma Bowman/Sooner Catholic.
Live Irish music was performed at the St. Patrick’s Day festival on March 16 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Photo Emma Bowman/Sooner Catholic.
St. Patrick (Fr. Joseph Arledge) gathered with a family at a food booth during the parish festival that honored their patron saint. Photo Emma Bowman/Sooner Catholic.
Fr. Joseph Arledge posed for a photo with the photo booth volunteers. Photo Emma Bowman/Sooner Catholic.
Fr Joseph Arledge participated in the 2025 St. Patrick's Day parade on March 15 in Oklahoma's Stockyards City. Photo Dana Attocknie/Sooner Catholic.