The head of New York's Catholics backed the committee. "My predecessors and I have always left decisions on who would march to the organizers of the individual parades," Dolan said in a statement. "As I do each year, I look forward to celebrating Mass in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the patron saint of this archdiocese, to begin the feast, and pray that the parade would continue to be a source of unity for all of us."