GREENSBORO — The 2018 Patrick J. Rooney Hibernian Fund Raffle for a Trip for Four to Ireland recently concluded with the Brunch and Raffle Drawing at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. This annual charity raffle, which raised a total of $15,000, is organized by the Na Cara division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Guilford County.
Once again, all 150 tickets were sold. AOH President Bob Jackson presided over the event, and the winning ticket was drawn by Father Bill Lesak. The winner of the trip to Ireland was Sallie Kelton of Greensboro.
In addition, the Na Cara division gave the Hibernian of the Year award to Deacon Larry Lisk in recognition of his role as division chaplain and for his ongoing service at St. Paul the Apostle Church and in ministering to prisoners.
Since the annual charity raffle began in 2005, the AOH has raised and distributed more than $100,000 to a number of worthy causes, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Victory Junction Gang Camp, Project St. Patrick, Heal Our Heroes, and Room at the Inn, as well as the local Catholic schools and parishes.
— John Pierce
BELMONT — Ancient Order of Hibernian (AOH) members and Belmont Abbey College students spent a spring evening April 12 learning about Ireland’s Catholic history under persecution at Belmont Abbey College.
Vincentian Father James H. Murphy, director of Irish Studies and the Center for Irish Programs at Boston College, was invited to speak on Ireland’s Catholic history under persecution from the 16th through the 19th centuries and reviewed the contributions of notable Catholics including St. Oliver Plunkett, Cardinal Paul Cullen, Blessed John Henry Newman, and Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.
Pictured are members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians along with Belmont Abbey College faculty, Dr. Farrell O’Gorman, chair and professor of English, and Dr. Patrick Wadden, assistant professor of history with Father Murphy (back row) after his talk.
The event was sponsored by the local AOH and the college’s St. Gregory the Great minor in Christianity and Culture. The AOH is a Catholic-Irish fraternal organization whose goals are to promote friendship, unity, and Christian charity; foster and perpetuate Irish history, culture and traditions and to protect and defend all life. For details, go to www.aohmeck2.org.
— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent