Thanks to Everyone that Attended and All Those Supporting the 6th Annual Great Irish Stew Contest!

Here are the winners:

Amateur:   Tom Coffey

Hibernian:  Maryanne Burnett- LAOH 87

Irish Organization:   Helen DeGrand- Mayo Association

Professional: Josh Landau (2007 Winner too)

People’s Choice: Team Kerrigan (2009 Winner too) www.kerrigansflorist.com

A special thanks to our sponsor, Mike Driscoll and the great staff at Finnigan’s Wake, without Mike’s continued support, the Irish Community would be at a loss.

Thanks also to our judges, led by Brian Duffy, Executive Chef at Kildare’s.
Denise Foley, Editor, www.irishphiladelphia.com
Councilwoman Maria D. Quinones-Sanchez (D- 7th District) who also saved the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Fr. Bill McCandless, OSFS- Chaplain LAOH 87 & Principal- Salesianum High School
Colleen Bowers- PA State President LAOH
Denny Donnelly- PA State President AOH
Kathy Fanning- Phila County President LAOH
Joe Fox- Phila County President AOH

Our Special Guests: Fran Dunphy- Head Men’s Basketball Coach- Temple University
Seamus Boyle- National President AOH and 2010 Grand Marshall- Phila. St. Patrick’s Parade
Ed Dougherty- National HHP Chairman
Maureen Bradley- Irish Bread Baker Extraordinaire

Our Contestants: Con Murphy’s http://conmurphyspub.com Dan Hazley- www.candomechanical.net
Mary Carr, Kathy Blair

Our Volunteers; Debbie Bednarz, Kathy Gessler, George Lees and Colleen McCandless

The Graphic Designs and Awards by Ed Rooney of www.penquinstudiosllc.com

Please note that our winners will feed the veteran’s at the Philadelphia Veteran’s Multi-Service Center, www.pvmsec .org and those in need at St. John’s Hospice.

You too can keep the good will generated today going by continuing to serve those less fortunate than ourselves. The organizations listed below are just a couple of the many that need your help.

Never underestimate your power to make a difference- join together with your family, friends and neighbors and nothing is impossible.

• St. Raymond of Penafort Church (www.saintraymond.net) in Mt. Airy operates a food distribution program that gives bags of groceries to needy families and individuals each Wednesday morning. In addition, the program delivers food to needy shut-ins who do not qualify for other types of programs.  Our food pantry is always in need of non-perishable items like peanut butter & jelly, tuna, soups, canned vegetables & juices, crackers and breakfast cereals. All donations are most welcome. Please call Sr. Gail at 215-549-3760 for more information. Fr. Chris Walsh is the pastor here.

• Saint John’s Hospice has been serving the homeless and less fortunate of Philadelphia since 1963 with shelter, food, and support services at 1221 Race St in Center City.  Forty men live at Saint John’s Hospice and another 12 in our Good Shepherd Program.  All 52 have committed to break out of homelessness and become independent.  These men get three meals a day, seven days a week. In addition, Saint John’s Hospice serves between 300 and 350 meals each weekday to needy men on the street.  All food is donated or purchased by donations. Visit Saint John’s Hospice at www.saintjohnshospice.org to donate online or for more information.  Or call Gerry Huot at Saint John’s Hospice at 215-563-7763.

www.phillyhhp.org hibernianhunger@comcast.net – or on Facebook at Hibernian Hunger Project

Brothers,

As we enter Holy Week and the passion of Jesus Christ please pray for our holy and faithful Priests but most important is for our Holy Father Benedict XVI, during this years of the priest.

May suggest these prayers.

A Priest’s Dedication To The Lord

May we thank those Priests who serve the Lord so faithfully and for inspiring others to follow Jesus more closely. We pray that Jesus will continue to bless the work they do and surround them with His love. O God, fill our hearts with your love today. May we praise you with joy and serve you in our brothers and sisters. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For our Pope

V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and bless him upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Let us pray.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Papal Intention for April 2011

General Intention:
That the Church may offer new generations, through the believable proclamation of the Gospel, ever-new reasons of life and hope.

Missionary Intention:
That missionaries, with the proclamation of the Gospel and their witness of life, may bring Christ to all those who do not yet know Him.

Click here for some additional material for Holy Week.

I wish all my Brothers and their division and their families a Happy and Blessed Easter – in Irish Happy agus bheannaigh Chaisc

Let us be glad and rejoice in his rising.

Your is motto,

Bob Haley
Firefighter John J Redmond AOH Division 22
President
PA State Catholic Action Chairman
Phila County Marshal
215-620-9588

Click here more information regarding the 2010 AOH National Golf Outing.

The National AOH Golf event  will be held September 15-18 in Myrtle Beach, SC. This is open to anyone – not just AOH and LAOH. For $300 you get 3 days golf on 3 different courses, breakfast, banquet and open bar all 3 days.

How can you not go?

Cut off is next Thursday April 1st!

Thanks,

Seamus Boyle National President
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc

Dear Hibernian Brothers in Christ Jesus,

This past Sunday, you probably received a bulletin insert urging you to notify your U.S. Representatives regarding abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

The National Committee for Human Life Amendment, NCHLA, has made this process very easy.

Please navigate to: http://www.nchla.org then one at a time, click the three buttons on the home page, “E-mail Congress” for each of the three topics.  A copy of a pre-written e-mail will be sent to all the appropriate parties automatically, and you will receive an e-mail notice as to who received your e-mail.

There is also a tremendous wealth of information relating to Health Care Reform in this website.

Also, there is a very important feast day fast approaching.  “The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord,” is appropriately positioned nine months before Christmas Day.  This is when we celebrate the greatest conception ever!  Please make time to attend Mass this Thursday and use this feast day as an opportunity to pray for the protection of the unborn and that all expectant parents care for their unborn children with the love and care of Mary and Joseph.

May the peace, love, and joy of Christ be ever with you!

In Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity,

Larry Squires
PA State Right to Life
Allegheny County Catholic Action
Division 17 Catholic Action

Brothers,

There is just eleven (11) days to go before the Pa. State Bylaws mandated deadline of March 31st for submitting your 2009 Membership Reporting Forms ( Form 11) and payment of Pa. State Per Capita assessments.

The Pa. State Bylaw covering state per capita is:
Article XII, Section 2 (a) The State Officers are authorized to levy per capita assessments on each member the first of each year for the legitimate use of the Order throughout the State , the amount of said assessment to be fixed by the State Convention. All membership forms and payments for the previous calendar year will be filed with the State Secretary no later than March 31st of the next calendar year. Divisions not submitting their per capita taxes by March 31st will be assessed a late fee of 50 cents (.50) per member. The penalty will be assessed on dues paying members only. Postmarks will be used to ascertain date received.

The State per capita assessment shall be two dollars ($2.00) and paid to the State Secretary on or before March 31st of each year.

We have not received Membership Forms and/or Per Capita from the following Pennsylvania divisions as yet :
Adams 1, Allegheny 9, Clearfield 1, Clinton 3, Cumberland 1, Dauphin 1, Delaware 2, 4, &17, Lackawanna 6, Lehigh 1, Luzerne 5, Monroe 1, Montgomery 4, Northampton 1, & 2, Northumberland 1, & 2, Philadelphia 1, 6, 17, 25, 39, 46, 80, Schuylkill 1, 2, & 3, Washington 1.

Gerry Ennis – PA State Secretary

To all,

Thank you for the prayers and best wishes I received from many of my brother and sister Hibernians for my brief stay in Lower Bucks Hospital. I am very happy to report that the doctor was able to insert stints to open two of my arteries and that I am feeling much better today. Again Thank you all!

Gerry Ennis – PA State Secretary

“May all that you wish for be the least you get
and may the best day’s you’ve ever had, be the worst you’ll ever see!”

The Lorica, or, St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb;
his riding up he heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet “Well done” in judgement hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile men that mar my course;
of few or many, far or nigh,
in every place, and in all hours
against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles
against the heart’s idolatry,
against the wizard’s evil craft,
against the death-wound and the burning
the choking wave and poisoned shaft,
protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

From Ned McGinley

More progress toward a United Ireland and proof to show that our historical bipartisan political strategy in the United States by the AOH and Irish American groups is moving us toward our constitutional goal.  The news earlier this month noted that former President George Bush called Reg Empey, UUP leader, to ask him to vote for the devolution of policing and justice Secretary Clinton called him as well. This isolated the UUP in their opposition to devolution.

Patience and perseverance is what has made all this possible.

Begin forwarded message:

From:
news@iais.org
Subject:
NORTH’S LEADERS MEET WITH CLINTON
Date:
March 16, 2010 5:29:37 PM EDT
To:
nedaoh1@aol.com
NORTH’S LEADERS MEET WITH CLINTON 03/16/10 15:28 EST
Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers have
held talks with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in
Washington DC today.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are in the US for
meetings with political and economic representatives.
Both men began their visit by meeting potential investors in
Chicago.
The meeting with Secretary Clinton followed a major business
briefing event organised by US Econo mic envoy Declan Kelly.
Deputy First Minister McGuinness said the meeting “provided
an opportunity for us to further cement the close ties that
we have with this and previous US administrations”.
“Over many years Secretary Clinton has played a hugely
supportive role in that process, and in our discussions
today I welcomed her determination to continue that role,”
he said.
First Minister Robinson said they briefed the Secretary of
State on “ongoing political developments and on our efforts
to promote investment in Northern Ireland”.
“In Washington and also in Chicago, we have been able to
engage with leading figures in corporate America and stress
once again the many mutual benefits that exist for investors
from the US and the Northern Ireland economy,” he said.
“I would be hopeful that, as has been the case in the past,
this engagement will bear fruit in the months and years
ahead as we seek to grow the partnership between our two
countries at both a political and economic level.”
__________________________________________________________
The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit organization
providing up-to-the-minute political news from Ireland to the world.
The IAIS is funded entirely by your contributions. Please send your
tax-deductible contributions to IAIS at 505 S East St, Culpeper VA 22701
You can visit us on the Web at http://www.iais.org

TO: AOH PEC and National Board
RE: United Ireland Campaign
FR: FFAI and PEC
DA: March 16, 2010

This following the city of Pittsburgh and the first State New Jersey is awesome as we continue to make the United Ireland Resolutions Campaign work toward our 2016 target date for United Ireland by peaceful political means.

Please help us to continue the momentum.

FFAI Chairman Sean Pender

PEC Co Chairman Joe Roche and Ned McGinley

Begin forwarded message:

From: williamjsullivan@verizon.net
Subject: United Ireland Resollution Passed by Lawrence, Massachusetts City Council
Date: March 16, 2010 9:28:37 PM EDT
To: division8aoh@verizon.net
Attachments: 2 Attachments, 69.8 KB

Great News from Lawrence, Massachusetts on Saint Patrick’s Day Eve

We are happy to report that the City Council of Lawrence, Massachusetts unanimously adopted and passed a Resolution calling for a United Ireland this evening (March 16, 2010). A large delegation of Sister and Brother Hibernians of Division 8 AOH and Division 8 LAOH were in attendance at the City Council Meeting. Great applause broke out in the City Council Chambers when the Resolution was passed and adopted. A great Saint Patrick’s Day present for Division 8!

Attached please find a copy of the resolution and press release that is being sent to all local media.

Bill Sullivan