Flashes of Fordham maroon dotted Fifth Avenue on March 17 as University alumni, friends and families of all ages marched in New York City’s 249th St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Nearly 500 people walked with Fordham on a day that was ideal for the parade—sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s. The pleasant weather also kept everyone’s spirits high.
“It’s one of my favorite days to be a Fordham graduate,” said Kat Bride, FCRH ’03, who has marched five times with the University. “I started in 2004 when it snowed beautifully, but we’ve never had a day like today. Today’s a gift.”
The day’s celebrations began with Fordham’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Agnes Church, where Patrick J. Ryan, S.J., Fordham’s Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society, and the Rev. Richard Adams, pastor at St. Agnes, concelebrated the Mass.
At 45th Street and Madison Avenue, march participants lined up between bands from Cardinal Hayes High School and the Notre Dame Alumni Society of New York, before taking their first steps in the procession at 2:15 p.m.
Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, with a Ram staff in hand, led the group up Fifth Avenue, past the thousands cheering for Fordham and giving high-fives to the marchers.
After crossing the parade finish line at 86th Street, just past the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dan Cremin, FCRH ’65, said he has been walking in the parade since 1957, first as a high school student and then with Fordham.
“I have a great time always,” he said, “but I can’t remember a better day.”
—Rachel Buttner
Photos by Chris Taggart
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