By Brother Tim Cahill, C.PP.S.
Brother Tim Cahill is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. He’s proud of his Irish heritage. He is currently the house director and sacristan of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio.
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day! A lot of people don’t know that St. Patrick was born in Britain—not Ireland—to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.
At the age of 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity. Many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, but it more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.
Although the towns surrounding St. Charles Center here in Mercer County, Ohio, are German in heritage, they will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year!