East Boston: St. Patrick, Green Bagels, and a Birthday Bash

By Br. Bob Metell, SDB

(East Boston, MA – March 27) – I know that I am a little late for news about St. Patrick's Day since this week is Holy Week. After a few technical difficulties, we are back in the saddle.

Since St. Patrick’s Day was on a Sunday this year, we celebrated it on Friday, March 15, along with Br. Bob Metell’s birthday! The celebrations began with crazy games in the gym, followed by a bagel bash! The Club Director, Mr. Mike Triant, treated all of the members to green bagels with cream cheese or butter for their afternoon snack. Maria, the Club’s art teacher and one of my kitchen helpers, threw a surprise birthday party for me in the Art Room.

St. Patrick’s Day is a legal holiday in Boston called Evacuation Day. During the Revolutionary War, the British siege of Boston began on April 19, 1775, with the British blockade of the port of Boston. No ships were allowed into the port or out without being inspected by the British. Their goal was to starve Bostonians into submission.

George Washington, who took command of the Continental Army, began to organize the Army and build fortifications on the hills around the city surrounding the British garrisons. When the fortifications were complete, he fired on the British relentlessly for months. The British, surrounded and running low on food and supplies, boarded their ships and departed Boston for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 17, 1776. Native Bostonians view it as the day St. Patrick drove the British out of Boston just as he drove the snakes out of Ireland.

That wraps up the St. Patrick’s event. Where did all of the time go? It is hard to believe that Lent is almost over, and Easter is right around the corner! The Salesian Boys and Girls Club’s staff strives to make the Club in East Boston a home that welcomes youngsters who come here to have fun and feel they are part of a family.

Before the evening meal, we gather everyone together for a short Good Night. My Good Night theme for Lent has been two-fold. First, it shows how having fun is our word for the day. Second, it helps everyone have fun.

We need to be welcoming and kind to each other. I believe our community, nation, and world would be a better place if we all took it to heart to take time out, relax, and have a lot of fun. Because we can’t have much fun alone, we need to spread the joy that comes with having fun to one another.