To celebrate St. Patricks Day, I visited the historic and aptly named, St. Patrick’s Church in South Bend. It was a beautiful sunny day and it is a very lovely building. I have not yet been inside, but I would love to see the sun coming through that massive stained glass rose window in the front. I bet it is gorgeous. “The edifice, designed by George T. Hodson, was constructed in a Gothic style with “Notre Dame” brick and buff Bedford stone trim. The church is one hundred and forty-seven feet by fifty-one feet. The frontal height of the church reaches sixty-six feet with two unequal towers. Between these two towers, a bronze statue of St. Patrick stands on top of the church “looking over his flock.” The skyline of the church is adorned with four crosses including a Celtic Cross atop the tallest spire. This Gothic style extends its beauty to the inside of the church where the pointed arches blend into the groined ceiling.”
After visiting St. Patricks, I then took a drive to the first most Irish place in America (other than my Uncle Tom’s house), the University of Notre Dame. A great way to end the day, drinking some Starbucks and enjoying a walk around the campus. I found a beautiful copper Pirate Ship sculpture, made by the shipbuilders in Norfolk. All in all a great day and good to remember St. Patrick, for whom this day is named.