• St. Patrick's Day, Catholic Church march to different drummers

Don the green and boil the cabbage: St. Patrick's Day celebrations are starting early this year -- at least for some Irish-Americans who don't want to run afoul of the Roman Catholic Church.Festivities kick off this weekend -- more than a week before March 17 -- with Philadelphia, Milwaukee and New Haven, Conn., among cities holding parades. That's because St. Patrick's Day falls during Holy Week for the first time since 1940. And to preserve the week's solemn focus, church officials have moved St. Patrick's feast day up to March 14. Some event organizers have moved up their celebrations as well.