Regarding Dispensations from the Obligation to Abstain from Eating Meat on St. Patrick's Day 2023

This year, the optional memorial of St. Patrick falls on Friday, March 17, in the Third Week of Lent. While there is no archdiocesan-wide dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat that day, all priests ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit possess the faculty to dispense (remove) or commute (replace with something else) the obligation for an individual or individuals in a group (e.g., a family gathering or a parish dinner event). Members of the faithful wanting to partake in a celebratory meal on St. Patrick Day that includes meat are invited to speak with their parish priest to inquire about the dispensation.