Around the Divisions

from National Director Ed Halligan ... These days we are making sacrifices that we would not have imagined a couple of months ago. One of these sacrifices is not being able to attend Mass. Thankfully there is the Eternal Word Television Network. They broadcast Mass and the Rosary several times a day. One is the Rosary Novena from Lourdes, France. Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us … [Read more...] about Mass and the Rosary Broadcasts

from National Director William Sullivan ... Irish Heritage Month 2020 kicked off on March 2nd, as it had for the past 40 plus years, with an Irish Flag raising on the North Common across from City Hall presided over by Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera. During the ceremonies Mayor Rivera presented Division 8 with a proclamation, declaring March as Irish Heritage Month in the City of Lawrence. The following Saturday night, March 7th, members of the Division, the Irish community, their families and friends, celebrated at the Division’s 149 Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Banquet and Dance. During the … [Read more...] about 149 Years Strong! The Rev. James T. O’Reilly OSA Division 8 AOH, Lawrence, Massachusetts

The Col. Thomas J. Cunningham Jr. Division and the LAOH Daughters of Erin Division, both in Loudoun, participated once again in the 13th Annual “Sweats for Vets” program at the Martinsburg Veterans facility in WVA. In concert with the Knights of Columbus Assemblies and Councils of Northern Virginia and the VFW in Leesburg, the AOH/LAOH distributed over 625 new sweat outfits along with over a thousand pairs of socks and over $8,000 in cash donations to approximately 500 Veterans in residence. The VA AOH/LAOH was responsible for at least $2,000 in cash donations and 50 sweat outfits, … [Read more...] about ‘Sweats For Vets’ in Virginia

A beautiful morning on January 17, saw the dedication by the Hibernian Celtic Cross Committee of a series of sculptures at the Hibernian Memorial Park in the West End of New Orleans. These sculptures were added to the already existing Celtic Cross Memorial. For more than 30 years the Celtic Cross has stood on the site of the New Basin Canal, between West End and Pontchartrain Boulevards, as a memorial to the Irish Laborers who dug the canal in the 1830s. Beginning at the lake, the New Basin Canal wound its way into the New Orleans, stopping at a turning basin near where the Mercedes-Benz … [Read more...] about New Orleans – Sculptures dedicated at Hibernian Memorial Park

On the fourth Thursday of each month, brothers of the Fr. Joseph P. Carrigan Division serve the evening meal to 150 of the transitional women's homeless population in downtown Denver at Samaritan House. Scooping up the grub for the women are, from left, Brothers John Queen, Jim Chappell, Mike Sheridan, Dr. Mike Boyd and longtime Hibernian friend and diaconate candidate George Lenihan. … [Read more...] about Colorado – Carrigan Division serves Transitional Housing Women at the Samaritan House

from National Director John Wilson ... On March 11, 2020, the members of the St.Columbkille Division 1 in Sarpy County, Nebraska served between 500-600 parishioners at St. Patrick Church in Gretna Nebraska. All enjoyed a great corn beef and cabbage meal with all the fixings. This was a free event that included the meal, entertainment and games. They have been helping St. Patrick Church with their annual St. Patrick’s Day Hooley celebration since 2011. The Hooley organizers arrange local troops of Irish dancers for entertainment and the dinner for this event. The Mission Statement of St … [Read more...] about News from Sarpy County, Nebraska

Brothers Will and Joey McGlynn, of Marietta, Ohio, continue a long and honorable tradition that has been part of the McGlynn family for the last four generations. They possess and curate their great-grand father’s Hibernian artifacts. Neil McGlynn, the boys’ great-grandfather, was born in Ireland about 1872; the family later moved to Renfrewshire, Port Glasgow, Scotland. It was in Scotland that Great-Grandpa Neil joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians Benefit Society of Scotland. There is little doubt that he did so to keep his Irish connection and identity. He was a member of the St. … [Read more...] about Marietta, Ohio – Four generations of McGlynn Hibernians

from Joe Hosie, Past PA AOH State President ... Monsignor William Farrell Div. #2 hosted a Fund Raiser Dinner for Matt Burnett, son of Frank, who passed away in May. Matt has a hereditary disease called Huntington's Chorea. His mother and grandfather both passed away from his terrible disease. Matt is now manifesting all of the symptoms, which takes away a person’s functional abilities. As a Hibernian, I was so proud as this day went by watching all the neighborhoods come in to greet Matt. We were able to sell more than 475 dinners and there was also a basket raffle. This Benefit was very … [Read more...] about Carbondale, PA – Successful benefit held for Matt Burnett

As members of the Dubuque County Division 2, located in the City of Dubuque, Iowa, we annually distribute donations to worthy groups and causes that reflect our mission of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. This year we included the Dubuque Rescue Mission for its outreach offering food, shelter, clothing and job assistance to men in need, with a donation of $1,000. Formed in 2013, Dubuque Division 2 has donated more than $34,000 to schools, charities and other worthy causes. These include Mary’s Inn Maternity Home, the American Cancer Society, Anamosa State Penitentiary Chapel, … [Read more...] about Doing Great Good in Dubuque

Orange County (NY) Division 2 members, from left, Kevin Moore, Bill Kirnan, Kevin Allen, Kevin Cummings and Sean Cummings delivering cartons containing over 150 toys to the Pediatric wing of St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. Accepting on behalf of St. Luke's Hospital was Kathy Sheehan, RN, BSN, center, Director of Emergency Services, Trauma & Respiratory and Joan Cusack-McGuirk, President and CEO of Montefiore/St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. … [Read more...] about Fr. Donald J. Whelan Division 2’s Annual Toy Drive

from National Director William Sullivan ... Rev, William J. Shanahan Division 1, Manchester NH Officers and Members of the Rev. William. J. Shanahan Division 1 of Manchester, N.H. for over twenty years have volunteered at the Families in Transition - New Horizons Soup Kitchen as part of the Division’s ongoing community service efforts. Families in Transition – New Horizons Soup Kitchen is the primary soup kitchen in Manchester NH, the largest city in the Granite State. Recently on Leap Day, Saturday, February 29th, a number of brother members of Division 1 met as they do every month, … [Read more...] about Putting the AOH Motto of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity into Practice

from National Director John Wilson ... What do you call a person who loves snow? A Montanan! They really look forward to winter more than anyone I’ve ever met. They love skiing, hunting, fishing hiking and enjoy having a fire in the wood stove in their living room. Montana is the Buffalo, New York of the West. On February 12th the Hibernians in Great Falls, Montana awoke to 28 to 30 additional inches of snow. The Hibernians see it as a great time to head to the mountains and go skiing. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Irish who came west and settled in the great state of … [Read more...] about Montana AOH Update

An annual "SouperBowl" event is run by the Fr. Solanus Casey and Ethel Kennedy divisions in Macomb County, Michigan, to support the Detroit-area soup kitchens run by the Capuchin Fathers. The Capuchin soup kitchens serve more than 2,000 meals a day and brother and sister Hibernians have been supporting them for 28 years, resulting in donations in excess of $350,000. SouperBowl is a day-long event offering unlimited bowls of soup and bread in a wide variety donated by more than 50 local restaurants and bakeries amid entertainment by the best Irish bands and dancers. This year was the … [Read more...] about AOH Scores Big in “SouperBowl”, benefits Capuchin Soup Kitchens

The Father Joseph P. Carrigan Division, in Colorado, got involved in the basketball coaching business this fall at Annunciation Catholic School. Carrigan Division members, back row, from left, Tom Tearney and Joe Wolters, have coached these 6th-grade boys deep into the season with the final results still pending. Go Cardinals! … [Read more...] about Hibernians serve as coaches in inner-city Denver

from National Director Ed Halligan On Sunday February 9, 2020 the Isle of Erin Degree Team conducted a Major Degree at the home of the Michael Dougherty Division #1 in Bucks County. Twenty-six members received their Degree while forty-five Hibernians were in attendance to observe. The Isle of Erin Degree team will be celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary in March of 2020. Due to deaths and retirements the Degree Team needs new members. They currently have members from as far away as Wilkes Barre, PA, Cape May, NJ and Dauphin County, PA. If interested or have questions, please … [Read more...] about Michael Dougherty Division #1 in Bucks County Hosts Major Degree

from National Director John Wilson ... Members of Denver, Colorado’s Michael Collins Division #1 and Father Joseph P. Carrigan Division of Boulder County joined thousands of people on the streets of downtown Denver, Jan. 11, 2020 to celebrate joy over the gift of life and human dignity at the annual “Celebrate Life Rally & March.” This year’s theme was, “Every life is a gift!” and the rally featured various guest speakers who shared their testimonies as well as musical performances to brighten up the celebration, including Irish dancers. Speakers included Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, … [Read more...] about Colorado AOH joins Denver’s “Celebrate Life Rally & March”

from National Director Ed Halligan ... The Lehigh County, PA Division #1 was formed in 1984. They currently have 100 members. Their Charity endeavors are impressive. They sponsor May’s Shelter, Mercy Special Learning Center, the Rescue Mission and Joe’s Kids – a toys for kids’ charity. All of these charities are in the Lehigh Valley. A more recent charity out of Bethlehem, PA is the Kolbe Academy that provides individualized academic programs in a safe, compassionate, Christ-centered community for high school students in recovery from substance abuse. This Division also raises the … [Read more...] about Tir Na’N Og’ Division 1, Lehigh Co., PA