• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Michael Willis, a nursing and rehabilitation center administrator in Catonsville, will be the grand marshal for the March 13, 2022, St. Patrick's Day Parade in Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Baltimore St. Patrick Parade honors health care hero Michael Willis as grand marshal

March 8, 2022
By Tim Swift
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News

After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, the Baltimore St. Patrick Parade returns to the streets of Charm City this year with a grand marshal who has fittingly been in the trenches, working to stem the tide of COVID-19. 

Michael Willis, an administrator at Summit Park Health and Rehabilitation Center in Catonsville, who has been involved in Baltimore’s Irish organizations for decades, will lead the parade as it makes its way down Charles Street March 13.  

“It was very exciting,” said Willis, a parishioner of St. Mary of the Mills Church in Laurel. “I was honored. I was humbled. Because there are a lot of Irish organizations in the Baltimore area. And there’s a lot of people who do a lot of good things.” 

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities were some of the hardest hit in the early days of the pandemic. While Willis said the situation has improved drastically since then, facilities such as his have been extra vigilant to prevent outbreaks and must work under many new regulations including regular testing of staff, residents and even visitors.   

The Laurel resident is a longtime member of the Hibernian Society of Baltimore and past president of the Baltimore chapter of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Both organizations work to raise funds for the clergy and seminarians. 

Sister Lawrence Mary Pocock of the Little Sisters of the Poor said Willis’ organizations have been a huge help to St. Martin’s Home for the Aged, a nursing facility for low-income seniors in Catonsville. 

“We depend upon public charity really to continue to give our residents a very high standard of care,” Sister Lawrence said. “And besides just financial help that they bring us by putting on parties and bringing gifts to the residents, there is a concern for each resident when they’re here. It’s apparent that they really love our residents.”

Sister Lawrence said Willis’ help isn’t limited to his charitable work. He often shares his expertise in the nursing home industry to help the Little Sisters of the Poor. 

“I know he lives his faith,” she said.” He’s a very compassionate person. He wouldn’t be the administrator of a nursing home today if he really wasn’t concerned with the poor and the sick, because the people he has in his nursing home are not rich people.”

While Willis understood the decision of parade organizers to not hold the parade in previous years, he is overjoyed the event is returning this year.

“I think it’s fantastic because it’s a way of celebrating our Irish heritage,” said Willis, a former board member of the Irish Railroad Workers Museum in Baltimore. “I think any kind of function like that, that gets people out and gets people together, can only help us get through this pandemic.” 

Editor’s Note: Watch video from the March 13, 2022 Baltimore St. Patrick Parade below.

Read More Local News

New chief advancement officer for Archdiocese of Baltimore sees role as support for ministry

Archbishop Lori will ordain 14 permanent deacons Sept. 30

PIE Back to School Breakfast aims for $200,000 for scholarships

Baltimore’s beloved Brooks Robinson, Catholic convert, dies at 86

Frank Bramble, 75, put his business skills to charitable use throughout archdiocese

Baltimore Basilica will host Marian Conference

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Tim Swift

Tim Swift is a former social media coordinator for the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Covering everything from pop culture to politics to religion to errant alligators, Tim has worked as a reporter and editor for The Baltimore Sun, BBC News and Local 10 News in South Florida. A native of Philadelphia, Tim grew up attending Catholic schools and got his start in journalism as the editor of The Prelate, Cardinal Dougherty High School's student newspaper. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. After a few years away, Tim is glad to be back in his adopted hometown of Baltimore.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Baltimore’s beloved Brooks Robinson, Catholic convert, dies at 86
  • Frank Bramble, 75, put his business skills to charitable use throughout archdiocese
  • Chance encounter showed Brooks Robinson’s Catholic spirit
  • Archbishop Lori will ordain 14 permanent deacons Sept. 30
  • Archbishop Wenski: ‘Change the narrative about migration’

| Latest Local News |

New chief advancement officer for Archdiocese of Baltimore sees role as support for ministry

Archbishop Lori will ordain 14 permanent deacons Sept. 30

PIE Back to School Breakfast aims for $200,000 for scholarships

| Latest World News |

GOP presidential candidates debate abortion, immigration at Reagan library

Biden makes history joining striking auto workers on picket line

Fire in packed hall turns wedding joy into tragedy in northern Iraq, killing more than 100

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • New chief advancement officer for Archdiocese of Baltimore sees role as support for ministry
  • GOP presidential candidates debate abortion, immigration at Reagan library
  • Biden makes history joining striking auto workers on picket line
  • Fire in packed hall turns wedding joy into tragedy in northern Iraq, killing more than 100
  • ANÁLISIS: Se nos escapa la esperanza hispana como agua entre los dedos
  • Analysis: Is the U.S. church’s Hispanic Catholic hope slipping away?
  • Papal commission asks synod make safeguarding a bigger priority
  • Archbishop Lori will ordain 14 permanent deacons Sept. 30
  • CARA study shows positive signs of Catholic belief in Eucharist, but underscores need for revival

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED