Parishioners at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bradys Bend can enjoy corned beef on the feast of their patron saint, but they shouldn't expect Irish food at Friday's fish dinner.

The Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, granted a special dispensation for Catholics in the diocese that allows them to eat meat Friday. Like it did in 2000, St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday of the Catholic holy season of Lent when Catholics normally would abstain.

Other dioceses around the country granted the same permission so that Irish Catholics and others who just love to enjoy the holiday can eat corned beef hash, sandwiches, casserole or brisket. The one-day lifting of the rules is non-transferable — Butler County Catholics shouldn't travel across the border to Armstrong to eat meat, but Armstrong Catholics can eat meat in Butler County, for example.

Brandt has asked that those who eat meat Friday choose another day to abstain in its place.

The Pittsburgh Diocese, which includes Butler County churches, has not granted a dispensation. The Rev. Ray Trance at St. Paul Catholic Church in Butler said parishioners there haven't made the dispensation an issue.

The Rev. Anthony W. Ditto, pastor at St. Patrick, said the dispensation is not an issue for parishioners there either. He said a few people have called him to confirm it, but no one has been upset or particularly excited about it.

"I think it's a non-issue," he said. "It's become an issue because Pittsburgh has not issued a dispensation when surrounding dioceses have."

The church has mostly Italian roots, Ditto said, but founders of what now is the Chapel of St. Patrick in Sugar Creek were Irish.

At the dinner Friday, Ditto said corned beef would not be served because volunteers have set up the kitchen to prepare fish.