![Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl applauds and thanks members of the O’Neill James School of Irish Dance, located in Arlington. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cardinal-applause-1672x1254.jpg)
!["Go in peace." Clergy speaks with the departing faithful at St. Patrick Church in D.C. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/archbishop.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/dancers.jpg)
![St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Northwest is the oldest D.C. parish. In 1792, this church was built by Irish immigrants. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/church.jpg)
O'Neill-James School of Dance at #StPatricks - the oldest DC parish fr 1792 @WashArchdiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/9uXSleqEov
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
Cardinal Wuerl starts his homily w a funny recollection of the Papal visit to #StPatricks @WashArchDiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/PZqjIh8d5j
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
Ancient Order of Hibernians: older than Knights of Columbus- ushers 4 #StPatricks mass in NW @WashArchdiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/yIiUAS0hBg
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
"God loves us" is the message at #StPatricks @WashArchdiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/11OH5e5vXQ
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
Eucharist brought to alter by Irish Dancers fr O'Neill James School of Arl @WashArchdiocese #StPatricks #WTOP pic.twitter.com/FP0wMJaJxe
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
Celebration of the Patronal Feast at #StPatricks @WashArchdiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/PIA9QqnPIG
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
Redhead Kathleen Proctor of DC says her Leprechaun is leading to a "bar" of gold #WTOP pic.twitter.com/RL7i5X0PeS
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
![Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl applauds and thanks members of the O’Neill James School of Irish Dance, located in Arlington. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cardinal-applause-260x174.jpg)
!["Go in peace." Clergy speaks with the departing faithful at St. Patrick Church in D.C. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/archbishop-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/dancers-260x174.jpg)
![St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Northwest is the oldest D.C. parish. In 1792, this church was built by Irish immigrants. (WTOP/Kristi King)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/church-260x174.jpg)
WASHINGTON — It’s festive to display shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day because they’re pretty, green, and Irish — but the tradition didn’t start that way, according to an expert of the highest order.
“Patrick being a good pastor, picked a simple sign to show everybody a much deeper teaching,” said Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, during his annual St. Patrick’s Day mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Northwest.
O’Neill-James School of Dance at #StPatricks – the oldest DC parish fr 1792 @WashArchdiocese #WTOP pic.twitter.com/9uXSleqEov
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) March 17, 2016
“The shamrock is a beautiful way of telling the story of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God.”
At the church — the District’s oldest Catholic parish — Cardinal Wuerl used his homily to share St. Patrick’s message.
“The Lord loves you. Jesus brings us the compassion and mercy of God. And we’re supposed to share that with our neighbors.”
Watch a portion of the mass below: