The clash of St Patrick's Day and Holy Week is proving a headache to bishops and event organisers alike, writes Rocco Palmo.

With Easter this year coming at its earliest since 1913, three major feasts - St Patrick, St Joseph and the Annunciation - have been moved outside the two-week period of the year's holiest days.

The Church's norms for the liturgical calendar prohibit saints' days from overlapping with the paschal observances. Local parades and other public festivals would normally take place on 17 March or the preceding Sunday, which is this year's Palm Sunday.

Archbishop Raymond Burke of St Louis called for "the appropriate recollection of mind and restraint in activity" from Catholics as preparations continue for the parade in the traditionally Irish neighbourhood of Dogtown, which is to take place on 17 March as usual, though the St Louis official parade is scheduled for 15 March.

St Patrick will only be marked liturgically this year on 14 March in places where he is the patron of the diocese or cathedral. In most of the country the saint's day will not be liturgically celebrated this year. St Patrick's Day will next clash with Holy Week in 2160.

n The Irish community in Toronto, Canada, is set to celebrate St Patrick's Day on the traditional date without heeding the Church's request to do so before the start of Holy Week.