BY THEA JARVIS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Blue skies, bright sunshine and mild spring temperatures greeted St. Patrick's Day celebrants who turned out for the annual March 17 Mass honoring Ireland's patron at Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta.

Green shirts and vests, natty green bowlers and jackets the color of Erin's sod filled the cathedral as Irish melodies and prayers were offered by their wearers.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue and priests of the archdiocese concelebrated the Mass, a fixture on the local Catholic calendar. The liturgy and parade following are sponsored each year by the Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta, this year for the 116th time but along a new route through Buckhead.

For many, the Mass was an important beginning to a busy day.

Roscommon native Matt Naughton, an Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner and former chairman of Atlanta's St. Patrick's parade, welcomed churchgoers at the cathedral door with his wife, Caroline, at his side. This year Naughton served as advisor to current parade chair and cathedral member Ted Sullivan.

Parade marshal Dianne Sullivan, who was baptized at Christ the King, attended Mass in the garb of the Scuppernong Polo Club--a yellow and purple polo shirt, jodpurs and riding boots. Sullivan and fellow members of the "Animals Are Us" team, which promotes therapeutic riding for the handicapped and disabled, planned to march in the parade through Buckhead later that morning.

Cormac Walshe left County Cork 35 years ago and has attended the annual Mass and parade since the late ?60s. Walshe and his wife, Patti, members of Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, were happy to see a strong turnout at the cathedral.

"The church is packed," said Mrs. Walshe. "We haven't had this many people in years!"

In his homily, Archbishop Donoghue called St. Patrick "Ireland's own Christian champion," whose own life mirrored the suffering of the Irish people.

Abducted by raiders and sold into slavery at a young age, Patrick endured the hardship of captivity, yet never lost hope or faith. He ultimately escaped, returned to Ireland and for the next 30 years "worked unceasingly to spread the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Archbishop Donoghue said.

At the time of his death, the fifth century bishop had brought Christianity to all of Ireland, attributing his success "not (to) any grace of mine, but a grace of God who conquers from within me," the archbishop said, quoting the saint.

Music, song, dance and poetry have been outlets for the Irish over the centuries, said Archbishop Donoghue, and as they have shared these gifts, they have shared their Christian beliefs as well.

"They have brought with them, wherever they have gone, a part of Ireland" and the spirit and Christian faith of St. Patrick, he said. "We are the inheritors and guardians of that gift in our own land, the sons and daughters of Patrick and of Erin."

Soloist Kathleen Donohoe sang the plaintive Gaelic "Cead Mile Failte" and the traditional Irish blessing, "May the Road Rise to Meet You," accompanied on the harp and flute by Debra Peterson. Hibernian president Tom Begley served as lector, as did Mary Coulson and Pat Egan. Organist Tim Wissler and music director Hamilton Smith assisted with the liturgy, which was coordinated by Rose Begley.

As Mass drew to a close, Msgr. Donald Kenny read a greeting from Ireland's president, Mary Robinson, acknowledging the strong links between Ireland and countries where Irish immigrants have made their home.

St. Patrick's Day "is an appropriate time to recall the positive impact (the Irish) have made in so many countries throughout the world," Robinson said.

Expressing her appreciation to those who continue to support an end to hostilities in her nation, she said, "St. Patrick and his message of peace and friendship is an example for those on the island of Ireland."

After Mass, people gathered in the morning sunshine to visit before heading to the parade.

Eight-year-old Shealeen Cleary, whose family attends St. Benedict Church in Duluth, was eager to step-dance her way through this year's parade. In the traditional tight curls, black dress and green vest of the Trinity Irish Dancers, the green-eyed, freckle-faced Shealeen was a winsome representative of the Irish-American community.

The Monday morning Mass, was one of many events planned by the Hibernians during what Begley called a "full weekend."

A wreath-laying ceremony at City Hall honoring Father Thomas O'Reilly, whose advocacy saved many of Atlanta's historic churches, began the celebration March 14, he said.

The Hibernian Society was originally formed to assist Irish immigrants newly arrived in America, Begley explained. Today, the group continues to "meet the needs of the Irish community" by sponsoring events like the Mass and parade and promoting worthy causes like a recently held fund-raiser for a local Paralympian.

"That's the whole tone of the Hibernians," Begley said with a measure of Irish pride.