BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--A sea of green blazers, ties, handkerchiefs and boutonnieres warmed Sacred Heart Church as the richness of the region's Irish-American legacy was celebrated March 16.

North Georgians remembered the day when everyone is Irish on Saturday this year with a St. Patrick's Day Mass followed by the annual Hibernian Benevolent Society Parade in downtown Atlanta.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue, whose parents were first generation Irish-Americans, was the principal celebrant. Msgr. Donald Kenny, chancellor of the archdiocese and a native of Ireland, was the homilist.

Msgr. Kenny told the story of an Irishman who wanted to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope while pushing a man in a wheelbarrow. The Irishman's problem was that he couldn't find a volunteer to get in the wheelbarrow.

One day while the Irishman was practicing his tightrope routine, a young man came up to him and said, "I've been watching you everyday. I think you'll succeed. In fact, I have every confidence in you. I know you can do it."

The Irish tightrope walker, struck by the young man's faith in him asked, "Do you really, truly think that I can do it?"

The young man replied, "Absolutely."

Putting that young man's faith in him to the test, the Irishman said, "You're my man. Get in the wheelbarrow."

Msgr. Kenny told the congregation that Jesus often did the same sort of thing. "People would approach him and tell him how much they believed in what he was doing and what he was teaching," Msgr. Kenny said. "Jesus would say, 'Good. If it's really true, then drop what you're doing. Leave your fishing boats. Leave your families. Leave your precious preoccupations and your wealth behind. Come and follow me.'"

Msgr. Kenny then reflected upon Ireland's patron saint who lived from 389 to 461 A.D.

Patrick was kidnapped, enslaved and exiled, but because of his great trust in the Lord he emerged a saint who without hesitation preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"From the pages of the Gospel Jesus spoke to Patrick saying, 'Trust me,'" Msgr. Kenny said. "Patrick did trust, and the rest is history...the history of a people whose lives and culture are sustained by an unbroken trust in God and by an unfailing dedication to the Church and her good works."

Msgr. Kenny reminded the congregation that we, like Patrick, are called to evangelize.

"Just as Patrick was called out of Gaul to bring the light of the Lord to Ireland, we are also called," Msgr. Kenny said. "Let us not count the cost. Let us make the leap of faith. Let us jump into the wheelbarrow. Let us trust God and put our lives in his hands, invoking once again that ancient and timeless vow of Patrick."

Msgr. Kenny then read the paraphrased breastplate of St. Patrick which states:

"We bind unto ourselves today,

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eyes to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to harken to our needs."

The offertory gifts were brought to the altar by six-year-old Chelsea and four-year-old Conner McKenna, the children of Melissa and the late Peter McKenna, who was active in the archdiocesan Cursillo movement and with the Pregnancy Problem Center in Hapeville.

Mr. McKenna, 39, was killed in a plane crash Dec. 14, 1995, while returning from send-off ceremonies for operation Christmas Child in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. McKenna owned and operated Mac's Customized Distribution, a large trucking company started by his father, Lawrence 'Mac' McKenna. His trucks had delivered 10,000 shoe boxes full of supplies and gifts for children in Bosnia, Croatia and Rwanda which had been collected by more than 30 Atlanta area churches.

Music included an Irish harp played by Nella Rigell and Brian Morrissey, president of the Hibernians, gave one of the Mass readings. At the close of the Mass, Msgr. Louis Naughton, one of the concelebrants of the Mass, read a message from Mary Robinson, the president of Ireland.

Following a reception in the parish hall, the Irish dancers, parade watchers and marchers made their way to nearby Peachtree Street for the noon-time march.

This year's grand marshal was Bernard Allen, Ireland's minister of sports. Msgr. Kenny was deputy grand marshal and Archbishop Donoghue was honorary grand marshal. Other marshals included members of the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Atlanta Fire Department and Hibernian and Command Forces Color Guards.

Miss Ireland, Chelsea McKenna, escorted by her brother Conner, rode in the first car of the parade and waved to the many parade watchers who lined Atlanta's streets.

The Hibernian Benevolent Society sponsored the 113-year-old parade under parade chairman Mac McKenna. The Mass was coordinated by Peggy Sinanian. Dancers from the Mulligan and Drake Schools of Irish dance performed during the parade along with high school bands, Scout and civic groups.