Bishop of Savannah Gregory J. Hartmayer, in an open letter to Savannah, said: March 17, 2016 My Dear Friends, Peace and all good things! Today Savannah continues a 192-year-old tradition of honoring the feast of the man who brought the Christian faith to Ireland. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration was a procession started by Irish immigrants seeking to maintain their identity in the United States. The day begins with 8 a.m.