Bishop Robert P. Deeley, the son of two Irish immigrants, will fittingly celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a church community known for its historic connection to the man himself.

Bishop Deeley will attend the annual St. Patrick’s Dinner at St. Patrick Church in Newcastle on Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m. Over 200 years ago, the church became the first in the U.S. to be named for St. Patrick.

In the early 19th century, St. Patrick Church, located on 380 Academy Hill Road, was designed by Irish architect Nicolas Codd and built on land donated by James Kavanagh and Matthew Cottrill, who had emigrated from County Wexford, Ireland, to Boston before arriving in Newcastle in the 1790s. The church was dedicated by Fr. John Lefevre de Cheverus in July of 1808. The altar used during that Mass is still in use at the original church

All are welcome to attend the dinner to enjoy an evening of traditional Irish food, friendship, and fun. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children, and $40 for a family of four or more.

Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Bishop Deeley will celebrate a special Mass at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. The bishop will bless shamrocks and distribute them to the parishioners at the end of Mass. The day holds special significance in Maine as St. Patrick is the secondary patron of the Diocese of Portland.

For more information, contact Dave Guthro, Communications Director for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7810 or dave.guthro@portlanddiocese.org.