The Ancient Order of Hibernians

AOH National Pro Life Newsletter (Special Edition)

Lawrence Squires — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 02:00:00 +0000

Today, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the US Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the opinion was authored by Justice Alito. Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett joined Alito’s opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts did not join the majority opinion but filed a separate opinion agreeing with the Court’s decision to uphold the Mississippi law but also arguing that the Court should not have decided the question of whether the Constitution protects abortion. The three justices, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan dissented against the ruling.

Please pray that in the days, weeks, months, and years to come, our Federal government and the states will do the right thing and vote to protect the most innocent and helpless lives among us, and that our communities continue to grow in love and support for families struggling with difficult pregnancies.

Father’s Day 2022

Lawrence Squires — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:22:00 +0000

As we celebrate with, or remember, our fathers on Sunday, June, 19, let us pray that, men everywhere understand that fatherhood bears the responsibility to protect and defend their families from all threats, physical and spiritual, so that they may share eternal happiness with them and all the saints and angels in heaven.

The Great Commandment.

Hear, O Israel!
The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.
Take to heart these words which I command you today.
Keep repeating them to your children.
Recite them when you are at home and when you are away,
when you lie down and when you get up.
Bind them on your arm as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
– Deuteronomy 6: 4-9

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

Lawrence Squires — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:46:00 +0000

St. Paul shown with the sword and the scroll

In the readings below, from Holy Mass for Wednesday, June, 1, 2022, we hear St. Paul warn the disciples about savage wolves that will come and not spare the flock and men perverting the truth to divide them and take them away from God. Again in John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus pray to his father for the unity of the Apostles. How can these readings of Scripture speak to us about politicians, celebrities, and news reports that divide us by repeating on a daily basis that abortion needs to be protected as a legal right.

Reading I Acts 20:28-38

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. Responsorial Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36abR.    (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts.

R.    Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, chant praise to the Lord who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens. Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:      “Confess the power of God!”

R.    Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Over Israel is his majesty; his power is in the skies. Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.

R.    Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 17:11b-19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Helping Men Be Fathers

Lawrence Squires — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:28:42 +0000

U.S. Catholic Congress of Bishops, USCCB, Life Issues Forum: Helping Men Be Fathers

By recognizing the unique role of fathers, we more effectively highlight the humanity of the unborn child. We also affirm marriage—what St. John Paul II called the “sanctuary of life” —that more effectively welcomes children into the world. And we bear witness to the crucial role of a father in raising children. Consideration of the father’s role is important to pro-life efforts.

Click her for the full article!

Call to Action

Lawrence Squires — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:27:27 +0000

Last Friday, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued a statement expressing deep concerns, saying:

“I call on all government leaders to work toward a budget that truly builds up the common good of all. This should include the many proposals in the President’s budget submission that seek to protect vulnerable people. And it must also preserve the Hyde Amendment and related provisions which have protected millions of unborn babies, and mothers in difficult circumstances, from the tragedy of abortion.”
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann

Click here for the full article!

St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 6: 25 – 33

Lawrence Squires — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:22:52 +0000

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
“For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.

Year of Saint Joseph – Cloak of Saint Joseph Novena for the Protection of the Unborn

Lawrence Squires — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 22:00:00 +0000

Pope Francis has announced the Year of Saint Joseph, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. The Year of St Joseph began on December 8, 2020 and concludes on December 8, 2021

Pope Francis also reminds us, God told Saint Joseph. “Get up, take the child and his mother” (Mt 2:13).

As Saint Joseph is the Protector of the Church and Holy Family, we are urging Hibernians to pray the Cloak of Saint Joseph Novena for the Protection of the Unborn. Begin the prayer on February 18^th and conclude on March 19^th, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

The Holy Cloak of Saint Joseph is a series of prayers meant to be prayed for 30 days, commemorating the earthly thirty years which St. Joseph spent in the company of our Lord. (You can pray along with a recording here)

St Teresa of Avila tells us, “As he himself [Jesus] was subject to St. Joseph while on earth, recognizing in him the authority of foster father and guardian, so now in heaven he is pleased to grant all his requests.” In the Year of St Joseph decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary said that, “to reaffirm the universality of St. Joseph’s patronage in the Church,” it would grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who recite any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, especially on March 19, the saint’s solemnity, and May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Hibernians Helping College Women Choose Life

Lawrence Squires — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:38:11 +0000

MiraVia (“Miraculous Way”) is a Charlotte NC ProLife organization that supports women in crisis pregnancies. Our Brother, Very Reverend Christopher Roux, Rector of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Charlotte, serves on the MiraVia Board of Directors.

Recently, MiraVia entered into a collaboration with Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina’s only Catholic College founded by Benedictine Monks in 1876, to create a unique residency program specifically designed for pregnant college students.

Belmont Abbey College , “ is honored to be the home of “MiraVia,” a residence for pregnant college students. The first of its kind in the United States, MiraVia provides alternative student housing and support for single, pregnant and parenting students.”

The Monks of Belmont Abbey Monastery donated the land for MiraVia’s 10,000 sqft facility and residents maintain their academic careers while living at MiraVia, either through classes at Belmont Abbey College or at another local or online college.

The College Maternity Residence for pregnant college students provides:

Free room and board for a pregnant mother and her child(ren)
Around-the-clock access to professional staff
Material assistance (baby supplies, nursery furniture)
Life skills classes, including but not limited to:
– Pregnancy health
– Labor and childbirth
– Adoption awareness
– Baby care and parenting
– Cooking / nutrition
– Finance / budgeting
– Career counseling / interview skills
– Natural family planning
– Healthy relationships
– Faith enrichment and Bible studies

In addition to the unique college residency program, MiraVia’s Outreach Center is a place for women to come and receive professional assistance and material donations both during pregnancy and after their baby is born. The Outreach Program provides pregnant women and mothers with individual and group support to address issues that may be causing stress and create plans for a successful future. The assistance provided includes baby clothing and supplies, referrals for financial & material assistance, referrals to adoption agencies and life-skills classes (e.g., Pregnancy health, Parenting, Finance & budgeting, Career counseling & interview skills and ESL Classes).

“The two AOH Mecklenburg County (Charlotte area) Divisions as well as the Mecklenburg County Board are proud to continue our long associations with MiraVia and to support this one-of-a-kind residential pro-life ministry for college aged women. Through the tireless work of many Hibernians over the years, these women and their children have been offered a viable alternative to abortion while continuing their education.” Bryan Somerville, President, Mecklenburg County Division 2, St. Brendan the Navigator.

The Mission of MiraVia

Respecting and affirming life from the moment of conception, MiraVia is a safe haven and source of hope for pregnant mothers and their children. Invoking a Christ-centered approach inspired by the examples of Mary and Joseph, MiraVia helps young families move toward a new life of hopeful, independent, and healthy living and educates the broader community on the importance of fostering a culture of life.

Global Leadership Forum Hosted by Irish Pro-Life USA

National Board — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 16:15:59 +0000

Irish Pro-Life USA will be hosting a Global Leadership Forum for the advancement of Pro-Life & Pro-Family values on Wednesday December 9th at 7PM EST on YouTube Live. Join us for updates and reports from both sides of the Atlantic with calls to action and reflections on positive change for the dignity and protection of human life.

The Keynote Speaker will be, Peadar Tóibín TD, Leader of Aontú, Ireland’s Pro-Life & Fastest Growing Political Party.

Special Guests: Fr. Stephen Imbarrato; Daniel O’Connell, National President, Ancient Order of Hibernians in America; Catherine Glenn Foster, President & CEO, Americans United for Life; Chris Slattery, Founder & President, EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers.

RSVP via email with Name & Address to irishprolifeusa@yahoo.com or text 973-529-4699.

Pro Life – Virtual Event – Saturday October 17th

National Board — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 20:02:49 +0000

Guest Speaker Nikki Bruni is one of the principal organizers of the Pittsburgh 40 Days for Life campaigns that take place during Lent, and again in the fall.

During the campaigns, volunteers meet in front of planned parenthood and pray for an end to abortion. There are many stories associated with the experience including couples who decide to keep their babies.

Nikki is going to share her experiences and talk about the 40 Days for Life Campaigns.

This Virtual event will take place Saturday October 17, 2020, 11:00 AM EDT.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE

January 24, 2020 – Annual Right to Life March in Washington DC

John Patrick Walsh — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:01:22 +0000

Please keep Friday, January 24, 2020 circled on your calendars for the annual Right to Life March in Washington DC.

The District of Columbia State Board looks forward to hosting Hibernians at their annual Pro-Life Breakfast at the Irish Channel Restaurant from 9-11am ($25/pp). This year our invited speaker is none other than Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4), a long time friend to the AOH and renowned defender of life. A Pro-Life mass will be held across the street at St. Mary Mother of God Church following the breakfast. We will then meet as a group along the parade route in time for the 1pm march kickoff. I look forward to another record setting year of Hibernian attendance.

While we are unable to secure a room block for visiting brothers and sisters, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or local members for recommendations on accommodations and travel arrangements. The DC State Board is also planning an evening of fellowship at a local Irish establishment for Thursday evening. More information to follow.

In the Motto,

John Patrick Walsh
National Pro-Life Chairman
Ancient Order of Hibernians
732-673-0762