Fr. William Corby Division
Ancient Order of Hibernians
(AOH) (44FA03)
Report of Activities
2002-2003
(Prepared for
The following is a summary of activities for the past two years under the presidencies of Brothers Tom Dix (2002) and Ray Connolly (2003):
INTRODUCTION-BACKGROUND
As a matter of background, the
Father William Corby Division, arguably one of the most active Hibernian
Divisions in the State of
St. Mary’s Church was first opened to the
public in 1858, and for years, since the Civil War, has been known as St.
Mary’s of Sorrows. The Church was built largely, by
Also, the American Red Cross
can trace its roots to St. Mary’s, as Clara Barton, the organization’s founder,
on church grounds, tirelessly nursed Union Soldiers wounded at the Second
Battle of Manassas and the action at
It is with the above backdrop and
deep a sense of spirit, pride, history, gratitude and
tradition that we of the Father Corby Division truly recognize,
appreciate, love and live our Catholic faith, Irish heritage, and American
loyalty and patriotism!
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
For our annual Parish Easter
Sunrise Service (outdoor mass), at the St. Mary’s
On Memorial Day, the
Division has become a tradition, organizing and sponsoring a moving Patriotic
Mass and a Blessing of Graves at St. Mary’s
A
number of our members have continued to aid the parish in other ways, as
Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Choir Leaders/members, as well as
through Finance, Cemetery, RCIA, Youth, Social Action and a variety of other
important spiritual and service committees/activities.
CHARITABLE & YOUTH ACTIVITIES
December 2002, the Fr. Corby Division established the John F. Devaney Sr. Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was established on the anniversary of Bro. Devaney’s death. The scholarship is named after the patriarch of our division and is aiding qualified family members of our Division, or of St. Mary’s Parish in their post high school educational pursuits. A committee, chaired by Brother Fred Walker (who has many years experience in the scholarship selection process) was established to award the scholarships on a sound legal basis. This Memorial Day, with numerous well-qualified candidates considered, the scholarship was deservedly awarded to James Francis Manning, of Fairfax Station.
.
The Division, in April 2003, made a
financial donation in support of the Child Advocate Support
Association (CASA) in
The
Father Corby Division continues submitting its scheduled pledge payments in
support of St. Mary’s Building Campaign. Also, selected Division members
have been involved, within the parish, as Team Captains and in other roles
supporting the Bishop’s “Rooted in Faith-Forward in Hope” building and
endowment campaign.
During
the month of March, Division members led by Brother
Several of our members have been
actively involved in the Christmas in April Project, while
Brother
This annual summer youth service
camp and project has been widely acclaimed for “all the good” our youth does in
helping the less fortunate, including the poor and disadvantaged.
Also,
we have continued our support of the St. Andrew’s Society Potato
project, while during the Lenten seasons; we continued our support of the
weekly Lenten Bread and Soup Dinners held at St. Mary’s. Of
course, several of our Brothers, who have long attended daily mass, had a
special focus on this commitment during Lent.
The Division has continued to support the St. Mary’s Squires and Roses by employing the services of these “top-flight young people” in connection with The St. Patrick’s Dinner-Dance service of food and post-event clean up. Couldn’t be done without these “guys & gals!”
In October, 2002 as well as 2001, the Fr. Corby and Alice Hamill Divisions supported and played a significant role in the St. Mary’s Parish Clothing Drive, The drive just past, saw a total of 1305 boxes of clothing collected for the needy.
The annual joint Fr. Corby/Alice
Hamill Divisions’ Christmas Party was held the past two years, all enjoyed
Great food, music, and games! Books, as usual, were collected as the price
of admission to the party. Over a
hundred books were collected at our most recent yuletide gathering, with all
given to the Book Buddies program of the
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
The Father Corby Division during
2002-2003 continued to offer Ceili Dance lessons for Division members,
spouses; St. Mary’s of Sorrows parishioners and interested others, with a
special focus on the annual Parish (AOH & LAOH) St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
Dances. Brothers
Our instructors also performed at the June
2002
The Division, for the past two years, has actively participated in the annual St. Mary’s Parish Awareness Weekend, staffing an information booth relative to the Hibernians and the Division(s). Of course, our involvement was used as membership recruiting opportunities.
Members of both this and the
Alice Hamill (LAOH) Division marched in the
At St. Mary’s annual Labor Day
Mass and Parish Picnic, the
HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES
On Memorial Day(s) afternoon(s),
the Division organized and directed a Memorial Day commemorative ceremony of
the
On
Also in October 2002, a Division field trip and outing was lead by Brother. Elmer May to the Gettysburg National Battlefield, with the day’s activities being extremely enlightening, educational and enjoyable.
In December 2002, as in past years, the Fr. Corby Division Color Guard participated in the commemoration of the Anniversary of the 1863 Civil War, Battle of Fredericksburg, supporting the General Meagher Division and the U.S. Park Service.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Annual St. Mary’s Parish St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dances, which are sponsored by our AOH/LAOH Divisions, were tremendous successes. These popular dinner/dances included outstanding traditional Irish cuisine, dancing and singing in a Pub atmosphere. Ceili demonstrations and dancing; the drawing of numerous prizes, including two round trip airfares to the Emerald Isle were also special annual highlights.
In each
of the last two Aprils, the AOH & LAOH Divisions have jointly sponsored our
As noted above, the Fr. Corby/Alice Hamill Divisions’ joint Christmas Parties were held the last two years and were indeed enjoyed by all. A number of other fun-filled social events/parties have also taken place. Of special note have been our after-action “celebratory meetings” recognizing those unselfish volunteer workers, who have been so heavily relied upon and involved in the various “good works” of the Fairfax Hibernians.
MISCELLANEOUS
As of June 2003, the Fr. Corby Division has a total of forty-five (45) members, with two new members/applications being processed.
Division fund-raisers were held on June 2, 2002 a June 8, 2003 at Pat Troy’s Restaurant/Pub in Alexandria, VA. Seamus Kennedy, a longtime friend of our divisions (AOH/LAOH) provided the entertainment and was the principal drawing card.
In
September 2003 the Tara Degree Team of Long Island, NY, certified the Brian
Boru Major Degree Team of Virginia, as the newest AOH Tower Degree Team.
Members of this major degree team from our division are: Brothers
The
Division has provided considerable support to the replica of the Irish Famine
Ship, “ The Jeanie Johnston” and its long awaited completion and voyage
to America. Several of our members, who have supported this project in a number
of ways, including financially, were finally able to personally greet the ship
this past May, upon its arrival and brief stay at the Water St. Pier, in
Washington D.C. Brother
.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond E. Connolly, Jr.
President-2003