Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish in Glenview held its annual St. Patrick’s Day Party on Saturday, March 16, in the OLPH Parking Lot.
Event Co-Chairs Brian O’Grady and Marty Kearney say this event hosted by OLPH Men’s Club is a way to raise a ton of money and have a wee bit of fun along the way.
“Like many other Catholic parishes throughout Chicagoland, Our Lady of Perpetual Help has a large Irish-catholic contingent which makes celebrating St. Patrick’s Day an important tradition for our parishioners,” Kearney said.
“With our tight-knit parish, this gives our Irish families a way to celebrate their heritage together as a community,” Kearney added.Kearney says, the event has a 10-year history, held for many years in the OLPH Playdium, then canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, before relocating to an outdoor heated tent with a beer garden in 2022.
“Everyone liked the change in location which gives the party more of an outdoor festival feel so it was an easy switch to make,” Kearney said.
Maisie Kunkel of Northfield attended Saturday with family and friends.
“It’s great fun to celebrate with our whole community, and I’m looking forward to the Irish dancers and to having a rare parent’s night out,” Kunkel said.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pastor Jerry Boland says while many associate this holiday with a beer blast, in Ireland it’s a day to honor our past and present.
“In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is actually a celebration of national pride and family, much more of a religious holiday celebrated by going to mass and enjoying a family meal,” Boland said.
For an individual ticket price of $90.00, the event included an open bar, entertainment from the Glenview-based, Sheila Healy Academy of Irish Dance, music by local Irish band, Mad Irish, and food available for purchase.
According to Kearney, with over 200 in attendance at this year’s party, the OLPH Men’s Club hopes to raise upwards of $15,000.
The OLPH Men’s Club, www.olphmensclub.org, works to support many facets of the OLPH community throughout the year — including programs dedicated to creating social, spiritual, and educational value for parish families, children, and staff.
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“There is a Gaelic expression, Ceol agus Craic, which loosely translated means coming together for fun, laughter, music and making memories, and that’s what this night is really about,” Kearney said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.