Archbishop Hicks Leads Packed St. Patrick's Day Mass in NYC

Mayor Mamdani in attendance as Archbishop celebrates Irish heritage and calls for unity and peace.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:24pm

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Archbishop Ronald Hicks celebrated his first St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, expressing awe for the celebration that united New Yorkers and drew the attendance of Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hicks spoke of the cathedral being filled with people of good faith and goodwill, celebrating the contribution of the Irish people to the country and the church.

Why it matters

St. Patrick's Day Mass at the historic cathedral is an annual tradition that brings together New Yorkers of diverse backgrounds, and the attendance of the city's first Muslim mayor underscores the event's role in promoting unity and interfaith cooperation.

The details

During the Mass, Archbishop Hicks highlighted the enthusiasm of young people across the country for the faith, and called for prayers for peace, especially in troubled parts of the world. He also included prayers for those involved in Operation Epic Fury and those protecting freedom.

  • The St. Patrick's Day Mass took place on March 17, 2026.
  • Archbishop Hicks was installed as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York in February 2026.

The players

Archbishop Ronald Hicks

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York who celebrated the St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic socialist mayor of New York City who attended the St. Patrick's Day Mass at the invitation of Archbishop Hicks.

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What they’re saying

“The cathedral is filled with people of good faith and goodwill and celebrating our patron saint, Saint Patrick, but also the contribution of the Irish people to this country, to this church, people who built our schools and our parishes, our churches and have contributed faith.”

— Archbishop Ronald Hicks (The Story)

“I think St. Patrick's Day, St. Patrick's Cathedral, is a place where we can unite people together into what is the common good, what is the best for our city, how do we act together in a way that brings out the best. It was a great representation today at this Mass.”

— Archbishop Ronald Hicks (The Story)

“Younger people are being attracted to God, to faith, to something of meaning, something of purpose, and they're finding it in the church. We, as a church, have to be a church that not only welcomes and says, 'Hey, you're the next generation,' but welcome them now and make sure that they're included in this church to build up this wonderful family of God that we have, as a living church, as a church that celebrates our faith of all ages together.”

— Archbishop Ronald Hicks (The Story)

What’s next

Archbishop Hicks plans to continue reaching out to Mayor Mamdani and other city leaders to promote unity and interfaith cooperation in the city.

The takeaway

The packed St. Patrick's Day Mass at the historic cathedral demonstrates the enduring significance of this annual celebration in bringing together New Yorkers of diverse backgrounds and faiths, underscoring the city's rich cultural heritage and the church's role in fostering community and shared values.