Celebrate 175th Anniversary at Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral

A  February 23rd meeting at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City final plans were made for the parade, Mass and reception for this  May 21st, 2011 commemorating the 175th anniversary of the AOH.

This site and date in May 2011 were chosen to recognize the founding of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America at nearby St. James Church (now closed) 175 years ago on May 4, 1836 by a ‘handful of Irishmen.” A letter dated 5/4/1836 “From the Brethren in Ireland and Great Britain to the Brethren in New York.” read:

“Brothers, greeting: Be it known to you and to all it may concern that we send to our few brothers in New York full instructions with our authority to establish branches of our society in America.” The letter goes on to explain qualifications for membership, use of the motto Friendship, Unity and true Christian Charity, and what is expected of the new branches and its members.

It was at Old St. Patrick’s that the call went out to the Hibernian brotherhood by Archbishop John “Dagger” Hughes to save the church from the Know Nothings in the mid 1800’s when those bigots were burning catholic churches. The AOH surrounded and saved the Cathedral and later built the wall around it.

To note the founding of our Order, Hibernian members wearing sashes, and guests are asked to assemble on Mulberry Street near Precious Blood Church just north of Canal St. at at 9:00 am on May 21, 2011. The parade will step off at 9:30 am and go north on Mulberry St. to Prince St., right on Prince St., left on Mott St. to the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. This route retraces a similar route, depicted in the famous lithograph, of the 69th Regiment in April 1861 on their way to the Civil War parading to St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and past the then AOH headquarters at 41 Prince Street. The 175th parade will be led by AOH color guard, clergy, AOH National Bd, first two divisions organized in 1800’s, LAOH Nat’l Bd, pipe bands and state, county and division officers and members with their flags and banners. Representatives of the Fighting 69th will also be part of the march to the Cathedral.

An anniversary Mass to be celebrated by the AOH National Chaplain Father Thomas O’Donnell of Pittsburgh and concelebrated by the pastor Msgr. Sakano, AOH State, County and Division Chaplains bishops and priests will take place at 11:00 am in the Old Cathedral. The Mass will be sung by the Hibernian Festival Choir under the direction of Maura Allen.

This choir has sung at the White House and at many venues in Ireland, N. Ireland, Canada and the U.S. and have always added to the solemnity of the liturgy. AOH members will act as ushers and altar servers under guidance of a committee headed by Past National Director Martin Kelly of Brooklyn.

Following the Mass, a reception will be held in the Youth Center across from the Cathedral. Catered food and refreshments and entertainment will be offered starting at approximately 12:30 pm. A short program and introduction of visiting dignateries will take place during the reception.

The reception will be chaired by Sir Patrick Allen, a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a brother Hibernian. A fee of $20.00 per person will cover cost of reception and day’s activities. All who plan to attend the May 21st celebration is urged to respond by April 30, 2011 with number attending and check made out to: AOH 175th  Anniversary and send to: AOH 175th Anniversary,  Mr. Patrick Allen 1713 Summit Avenue Union City, NJ 07087. Registration and receipt of wrist band of all pre-paid responders will take place at parade assemble area prior to start of parade and again for rest of attendees immediately following the Mass. All are urged to respond by the deadline.

To get idea of numbers attending on 5/21/11, everyone is asked to contact asap either 175th Chrmn. PNP Ed Wallace at 315-686-391 or email ewallac2@twcny.rr.com or Nat’l Pres. Seamus Boyle at 215-820-1547 or email shay39@comcast.net.

Or help by purchasing a raffle or two.

All proceeds are for the Hunger Memorial fund.

The Irish were intentionally starved out of their homes and their Country.

This exodus caused by the Great  Hunger brought millions of Irish people to the USA. Many who made this journey did survive but many thousands did not.

The Irish Immigrant knew hunger as few others ever did. One of our major efforts under the HIBERNIAN HUNGER PROJECT is to help our local food pantries.  No one in this country should want for food. Or have their children go without the necessary nutrition.
If Possible Please Donate to the Food Pantries.

Every Cent you donate through AOH Division 11  that is earmarked for the Food Pantry makes it to Your Local Pantries. Unlike charities that have only a percentage of your donation make it to where it was intended.

In these challenging times, more and more people find themselves in need.

Food stamps cannot purchase household items.

Supermarket Gift Cards appreciated.

Below are current Non-perishable Items ESPECIALLY needed:

Holy Family Outreach Center -  December -

As Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we are truly Blessed… May we suggest a voluntary donation of $5 per family or a donation of Tuna, Meat or coffee for our pantry

Please we need – COFFEE – CANNED MEAT and TUNA

Canned Meats, Tuna, chili, jelly, rice, sugar, black beans, cereal, coffee, crackers,
sweet potatoes turkey gravy, white potatoes cake mix, canned fruits, mayo, juice salad dressing, cooking oil, soups, Tomato Sauce, milk products, stuffing, cranberry sauce,
dish detergent, hair conditioner, deodorant, tissues laundry detergent, napkins paper towels, plastic wrap, waxed paper, aluminum foil, toilet paper

Thank You for your support!  Sister Carol Radosti Coordinator, Parish Social Ministry

 

Saint Ignatius Human Resources -  December -

IN NEED OF LARGE AMOUNT OF RICE, BEANS and TUNA .

 SUPPLY’S are LOW – Please Donate or contact for pickup! (516)935-8846

Need Rice ..Canned Meat, Beans,  Whole Kernel Corn, Pancake Mix and Syrup, Fruit in Cans/Jars, Fruit Juice, Rice in Bags and Boxes, Chunky soups are always needed.  And many non food items are needed as well like Foil, Wax paper, Toothpaste and Toothbrushes, Shampoo, Diapers (size 1,2 & 5), soaps and detergents.

Saint Raphael Outreach Center -  December:

(NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS ONLY).. TUNAFISH, CHEF BOYARDEE, BROTH/GRAVY
CANNED MEATS, JUICES, TACO SHELLS, COFFEE/TEA/HOT CHOCOLATE, CAKE MIX,
SOUPS, TOILET PAPER, DETERGENTS, MENS & WOMENS TOILETRIES

PLEASE DO NOT BRING ITEMS TO THE CONVENT / RECTORY.
LEAVE BY the ST. ANTHONY STATUE IN CHURCH.

NEW -Article quoted from the Long Island Catholic 4th week October 2010

SAINT IGNATIUS FOOD PANTRY -

There has seen a huge increase in the number of people seeking assistance in the past few years. In September 2007, the parish outreach fed 292 people. This past September, they fed 552 people, Samodulski said, noting that this increase occurred despite the fact that the pantry was open five days per week in 2007 and now is open only three days.

People who receive aid at St. Ignatius fall generally into four categories, said Samodulski. Undocumented immigrants make up a large percentage of the clientele. “These are the people who are busing our tables, washing our cars and mowing our lawns,” he said, but don’t make enough to feed their families.

Some of the clients are homeless people. “The homeless population of our clients has dwindled from 45 to about 12, because a lot of the people we used to see have died,” said Samodulski.

Two other groups are growing in numbers, according to Samodulski. Each month the parish assists between 35 and 45 senior citizen households, most living on fixed incomes.

“The fastest growing group is the ostensibly middle class,” he said. “They have been laid off, downsized or outsourced. They have tuition and mortgage payments they can no longer afford because the primary or secondary wage earner or both have lost jobs.”

“While the numbers (of this group) are small in comparison (to the other groups) they have grown most quickly, almost double in the past year,” he added.

Here is an article that was published about the food not getting to those people who need it. Also the food they have on hand and pay to store is not a variety of food needed by the pantries! …Note: The article in Newsday did not even address this point.

Pantries Bare while Food Banks Full

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To AOH from Saint Ignatius Social Service Outreach Thank you Division 11

Saint Ignatius Social Service/Outreach Pantry,

Saint Ignatius Social Service/Outreach pantry
Thank you letter to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 11 John Barry A.O.H. for the tons of food this year.
Over 2,000 lbs in the past season has been delivered to the local outreach centers in Hicksville NY through Division 11.  That helped a lot as more than 1,495 distributions were made from the St. Ignatius center in November alone. And this number includes 692 Children and 510 households!
( Double Click here to read letter. )

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Reasons for Learning:
An Gorta Mor – The Great Hunger

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America’s largest Irish Cultural organization, has assembled the information contained in this site to advance the understanding of An Gorta Mor – Ireland’s Great Hunger from 1845 through 1851 and beyond – a tragic time in world history whose impact has yet to be truly recognized. There are only two instances in history in which ethnic cleansing has been perpetrated against a people not as a reprisal for rebellion, civil strife nor political retaliation. Those two are the Holocaust and An Gorta Mor.

( Just Click Here for the full publication on the AOH National site)