Around the Divisions

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

from National Director Bill Sullivan ... As it has annually for the past fifteen years, the James C. Campbell AOH Division 19 of Lowell, Massachusetts participated in the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign on Saturday, December 14, 2019. On Saturday morning, December 14 members of Division 19 greeted shoppers in front of one of the city's largest supermarkets in the area, Market Basket, and happily accepted donations on behalf of the Salvation Army. This nonprofit organization assists more than 4½ million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods in the United … [Read more...] about The Bell Ringers!!! – James C. Campbell Division 19 AOH, Lowell, MA

from National Director Dennis Parks ... On December 8, in conjunction with the AOH National Board, the brothers of the Bishop Whelan Division in Wheeling WV, held a day of prayer and fasting for the victims of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The event was held outside of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Wheeling. According to Division President Tom Connelly, over 75 people joined with the AOH to pray the Rosary. The event was also covered by the local media. … [Read more...] about Wheeling WV AOH Holds Day of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sex Abuse

from National Director Ed Halligan ... Division 27 in Philadelphia is a new Division that was created on September 5, 2019. They are located in South Philadelphia near 6th and Oregon. It has been a long time since we have had a Division in South Philly. Their members are from the Operating Engineers Local 542. The Division made a substantial donation to the Hibernian Hunger Project in Philadelphia and ran a fundraiser on December 14th for the same. They meet upstairs at the Fireside Pub … [Read more...] about New Division in South Philly – Div. 27

from National Director John Wilson ... In Saint Charles, Missouri, there is a roadside shrine called Our Lady of the Way: it is believed to be the only one in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary under this title. It is maintained by the AOH of St. Charles County and has the names of their deceased members of the Division on bricks along the pathway to the Shrine. In addition, there are bricks dedicated to Irish Saints and Feast Days of our Blessed Mother. The AOH took over the duties of the Shrine 10 years ago after reading a newspaper article about the Shrine and the original … [Read more...] about Our Lady of the Way, St. Charles, Missouri

from National Director Bill Sullivan ... Recently the AOH Connecticut State Board’s 9th Annual Softball Tournament was held at Foote Field in Milford, CT, and was hosted by the JFK Division 1 of Bridgeport, CT. Divisions across the “Constitution State” fielded teams in this annual tournament of goodwill. Each year a particular charity is selected to receive the proceeds from this endeavor. The recipient selected for the proceeds of this year’s game was the Arthur C. Luft Children’s Burn Camp, which is located in Union, CT, which is on the Massachusetts state line near Sturbridge … [Read more...] about Connecticut AOH Divisions Play Softball for a Cause!

from National Director John Wilson On October 1st, the ninety-first Greater St Louis Honor Flight took 58 Korean War Veterans along with Greater St Louis Honor Flight Staff, Guardians and Volunteers that made this one day trip go so smooth to Washington DC. On board this flight was our Past National AOH President George Clough who served in the USAF and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Greater St. Louis Honor Flight honors St. Louis area Veterans’ service to our country by providing an all-inclusive trip to Washington, DC to visit the memorials built in their honor. The St … [Read more...] about St Louis AOH Honors One of their Favorite Veterans

from National Director Ed Halligan The Officer Jack Duffy Division is named after a Philadelphia Police Officer killed in the line of duty on December 10, 1983.  His patrol wagon was struck by a patrol car as the vehicles responded to an officer needs assistance call.  Officer Duffy was on the force for 1 year and 9 months.  He was 22 years old.The Division keeps his memory alive by running grade school basketball tournaments and essay contests. The money raised is used for Catholic high school scholarships  … [Read more...] about AOH Division 6 Officer Jack Duffy Raises Scholarship Money