Bishop Gruss grants dispensation from abstinence for Friday, March 17, Memorial of Saint Patrick of Ireland, asks faithful to choose another day to abstain from meat. For those who wish to partake in a celebratory meal on St. Patrick's Day, I grant the dispensation from abstaining from meat on this particular day. In doing so, I am also asking that you replace that Friday for another day during that week to abstain from meat as a day of special penitential observance. ~Bishop Gruss