Division Newsletter
September - October 2026
Division News
You still have time to pay your 2026 Membership Dues! Regular Members are $40/yr. Members 65+ are $32/yr. Active Duty Military are FREE. Send your check made payable to AOH to Ancient Order of Hibernians, 4741 Central Street Box 620, KCMO 64112.
Our new ONLINE MEMBERSHIP PHOTO DIRECTORY! Contact Financial Secretary Dan Cummings at djcummings05@gmail.com for information about how to submit your information.
AOH Scholarships:
At our August meeting, the Division awarded 7 scholarships to area Catholic High School winners of our annual Essay Contest. Bishop Johnston and our Chaplain, Fr. Don Willard, Pastor at Redemptorist/Our Lady of Perpetual Health were on hand to help us recognize the recipients. The seven winners were chosen by our judges from 37 submittals. This year’s deserving recipients were: Andrew Ravasini, St. Michael the Archangel awarded $3,000 Will Lueckenhoff Scholarship; Elizabeth Olschiki, St. Michael the Archangel, Meghan Sorriano, St. Pius X, Amelia Hancock, Notre Dame de Sion, Molly Roudebush, Notre Dame de Sion, Teddy Stipanovich, St. Pius X, and Sophie Ahern, St. Michael the Archangel all were awarded $1,000 AOH Scholarships. Congratulations to each of these superior students and their families that support them!
26th Annual Crystal Cup Football Classic - Friday, September 4, 2026, at 7pm at Lee’s Summit North High School. This year’s match features St. Pius X taking on St. Michael the Archangel. A tailgate for AOH members and their families’ starts at 5pm. Italian sausage, brats, hot dogs, and fixings will be provided. Bring your own red cup, desert, and beverage of choice. AOH Members will present the Cup to the game winner at the conclusion of the game and checks to be given to the coaches of each program. The games are always entertaining plus this keeps the tradition of the bygone Catholic League City Champion alive. Contact Dan Joyce or Tom Laughlin for more information.
2026 Irish Fest - Labor Day weekend, September 4-6 at Crown Center. Join your Division brothers for this annual celebration dedicated to promoting the culture, music, character and history of Ireland and of the Irish people who call Kansas City home. Kansas City Irish Fest offers attendees the chance to see some of the top Irish entertainment in the world. But there’s so much more to do here beyond listening to music! After all, we’re here to bring the heart of Ireland to the Heart of America, and that means everything from Irish culture to shops, beverages, food and activities using Irish themes and traditions
Chili Dinner / Ratucky Derby Fundraiser - Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Redemptorist/Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3333 Broadway Blvd., Dinner at 5:30pm and Races at 7:00pm. Hosted by your Division and LAOH. Tickets (21+ to attend) are $30/person in advance, $35/person at the door, or $280 for a table of 10. For Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities please refer to https://givebutter.com/laoh-aoh-chilidinner or 816-590-3876.
A Heartfelt Goodbye - The Padraig Pearse Division lost a good friend and fellow (St. Joseph Division) Hibernian, Pat Casey, who passed away on July 13, 2026, in St. Joseph after a long illness. Pat leaves a loving wife, Heidi, and their children, Ryan, Evan, Hannah, and Shannon. Pat served as President of the St. Joseph Division as well as our Missouri State President. He worked hard to bring the St. Joseph Division into the activities and fraternal feelings of other Missouri State Hibernians, both in Kansas City and St. Louis. While President, Pat ensured his Division took part in State affairs including our State Board Meetings at a rate unseen before or after his tenure and much was accomplished, including getting the MacBride Principles passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. These Principles ensured that no State retirement accounts or short-term investments would be made in companies doing business in the six counties of Occupied Ireland that would not sign on to the MacBride Principles which prohibited discrimination against Catholics in their hiring practices. Pat showed first-hand what could be accomplished in our State when all Divisions pull together. A Hibernian like Pat will always be missed. Safe home, Pat. You did it right.
A Special Invitation from our Veterans Committee to members and their families - All Division members and their families are invited to join our Veteran brothers in commemorating Veterans Day in a very special way this year. Please plan to join our veterans for a great day of remembrance, patriotism, and camaraderie on Wednesday, November 11. Activities begin with 7am Mass at our home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help followed by breakfast at Eggctra, 50th & Main for breakfast. AT 10am, we will visit the WWI Memorial for a tour at our leisure. Finally, we will assemble at Anthony’s Italian Restaurant, 6th & Grand, for a mid-afternoon meal from a special Veteran’s Day menu with special pricing. We hope to have a large turnout for this day as we remember and recognize our veterans. Please contact brother Dan Joyce, 913-907-4677, or joycekimchase@gmail.com for more information and to reserve your spot. Both the WWI Memorial and Anthony’s need an approximate headcount so be sure to go through Dan to assure our discounts and free passes.
Catholic Action
First-Friday Mass - Please join your Division brothers for First-Friday Mass on the first Friday of each month at 7am at Redemptorist/Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 33rd & Broadway.
Prayers for the Intentions of Division Members - Please join your Division brothers in our own private prayer service at 3pm each day. In a quiet place, we recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. The prayer list is updated weekly and distributed by brother Steve Lynch. Contact Steve at stevelynch7@aol.com with your own prayer requests.
Troubling Situation at Notre Dame University - Brother Joe Flanagin shared that a troubling situation is looming at Notre Dame. It is reported that Fr. James Martin, a leading opponent of the Church’s teachings on abortion, sexual morality, and homosexuality is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the school. Fr. Martin’s dissent from Catholic teaching on these issues is extensive and he should not be given an audience at a University that identifies itself as Catholic and to which parents send their children expecting Catholic formation. Please contact Joe Flanigan a flaniganj@sbcglobal.net to sign and share an urgent rebuke to this situation.
Nugget of History - On the first St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in the new United States of America on March 17, 1776, General George Washington forced the British Army, under the command of General William Howe, to retreat from Boston. This marked the first American victory of the Revolutionary War.
Arts & Media - New Division member, Jim Richmond, shared a very interesting narrative from his time at sea aboard the aircraft carrier, Coral Sea.Due to space limitations, we’ll not reprise this narrative in its entirety but please refer to the emailed newsletter you received to enjoy Jim’s remembrances of his time serving our Country as a member of the U.S. Navy.
Upcoming Division Meetings
Thursday, September 10 at 7pm at Redemptorist/Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 33rd & Broadway
Thursday, October 8 at 7pm at Redemptorist/Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 33rd & Broadway
July And August 2026
Division News **If you’ve yet to pay your 2026 dues, the deadline was May 1 but you can still pay your dues and stay current. Annual Dues for Regular Members = $40 Members 65 and older = $32 Dues can be paid via PayPal on the member section of our website, www.kcaoh.org or via check made payable to AOH or simply bring your dues to a meeting. Checks should be sent to: Larry Tatum, Treasurer 1900 West 67th Terrace Mission Hills, KS 66208. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Cummings, Financial Secretary at djcummings05@gmail.com For those members who have not undergone their 4th Degree induction there is a timely and propitious opportunity at hand. During the AOH National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska there will be a 4th Degree induction on Saturday, July 18 open to all members whether attending as delegates or not. President Mike Aylward is forming car-pool(s) so interested members can car-pool up and back on Saturday and take part in a fairly rare opportunity to attain your Fourth Degree. Plans will be discussed at our business meeting on July 9 and rides organized. If you would like information before then contact Mike at: maylward@sekbank.com. This is an opportunity no Hibernian should miss, especially when it is this convenient. The Padraic Pearse Division recently selected our $1,000.00 scholarship winners based on essays written by the student applicants. They are: Molly Roudebush, Notre Dame de Sion; Amelia Hancock, Notre Dame de Sion; Sophia Ahern, St. Michael The Archangel; Elizabeth Olschki, Notre Dame de Sion; Megan Soriano, St. Pius X; Teddy Stipanovich, St. Pius X. In addition we awarded two Lukenhoff Scholarships to students at St. Michael 4 The Archangel High School. These scholarships are named after a former Padraic Pearse Division member, William Lueckenoff, who passed away after a long and successful career in our division. Congratulations Andrew Ravasini and Sophia Ahern on your awards.
Member News
*Join your brother Hibernians in putting our Catholic Faith in action every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Washington Park, across from Union
Station. Brother Robert Kennemer serves up soup and other food items he has prepared each Tuesday and we are all invited to come
down and see how it works and to join him whenever we have a Tuesday evening free. Once you see how it works you may want to
bring your own item(s) of food to serve. 45 minutes or so of your time is a small price to pay when you can bring so much hope to the
hopeless.
Veterans Salute
Dan Joyce, Veteran Affairs Chairman
*Contact: joycekimchase@gmail.com with any questions concerning
Veterans benefits or activities.
NEXT MEETING is July 9; (Storage Cleanup); FOLLOWING MEETING is August 13.
Rest In Peace
*If you know of a Pearse member or a friend of our division who passes
away please contact President Mike Aylward, maylward@sekbank.com,
and we will include them in our prayers and in this column.
*Sick Bay
Please keep the following Hibernians and friends and family in your daily prayers:
Kathy Chaney, Ann Quinn, Lydia Powell, Carol Lark, Walter P. Murphy, Kathy Glynn
Dorothy Clemons John McNally, Brother John Phelan, Brother Pete Lobdell, Brother, Joe DeKat, Brother Steve Page
All the ill and elderly in skilled nursing facilities
Nearby and Coming Soon
*July 15 - 19, AOH National Meeting in Omaha, NE
*August 13, Bishop Johnston awards Scholarships
at AOH Meeting
May/June 2026
Division News
*On Tuesday, March 24 our Division Brothers proudly participated in the Grandview, MO City Council declaring March as Irish
Heritage Month. Brother John Maloney set this up and his fellow Aldermen were most gracious and supportive of our Irish heritage.
*If you’ve yet to pay your 2026 dues, the deadline was today, May 1 but you can still pay your dues and stay current. Annual Dues
for Regular Members = $40
Members 65 and older = $32
Dues can be paid via PayPal on the member section of our website, www.kcaoh.org or via check made payable to
AOH or simply bring your dues to a meeting.
Checks should be sent to:
Larry Tatum, Treasurer
1900 West 67th Terrace
Mission Hills, KS 66208.
If you have any questions, please contact Dan Cummings, Financial Secretary at djcummings05@gmail.com
*Don’t forget to sign up now for our annual AOH Classic Golf Outing Friday, June 19 at Minor Park Golf Course, Red Bridge
& Holmes. The Tournament supports our Hibernian Charities including Catholic High School Scholarships, Morning Glory
Ministries, Save Our Seminarians, and other worthy charities. Foursomes are filling up rapidly but there is still room to get
yours entered. If you don’t have a foursome you can sign up and we will assign you to one.
Individual Golfer - $150.00 includes golf, cart, food, 1 mulligan, 2
drink tickets, a goodie bag and the after-party.
Foursomes are $525.00, all inclusive for 4.
8:00 a.m. shotgun start, Scramble format.
If you don’t play golf you can still support our charities by providing a Hole Sponsorship - $225.00; Refreshment Cart
Sponsorship - $500.00; Silver Sponsor - $1,000.00 which includes a foursome, Hole Sponsorship and prominent Company
exposure; Gold Sponsorship - $2,000.00 which includes all the above benefits plus tournament co-sponsorship with logo and app
exposure prior to and throughout the tournament.
Questions on signing up for a sponsorship or to play, contact Joe Flanagin, flanaginsbcglobal.net, or
Mike Nash, tanman4wvu@gmail.com.
*NEXT MEETING May 14; FOLLOWING MEETING June 11.
Member News
*Cead Mile Failte to our two newest members, Neil Volz, who joined in March, and Bob Breen, who joined at our April meeting.
Great to have you both on board.
*Join your brother Hibernians in putting our Catholic Faith in action every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Washington Park, across from Union
Station. Brother Robert Kennemer serves up soup and other food items he has prepared each Tuesday and we are all invited to come
down and see how it works and to join him whenever we have a Tuesday evening free. Once you see how it works you may want to
bring your own item(s) of food to serve. 45 minutes or so of your time is a small price to pay when you can bring so much hope to the
hopeless.
*One of our active duty military brothers, Ryan Spratlin (photo on next page), has just graduated from U.S. Navy Flight School as a
Rescue Swimmer. He is an E3 AWS He continues his training at NAS Pensacola and reports a lot of
working out with calisthenics and running, in addition to studying disentanglements, and patient assessment. Ryan is hoping to do
anti-drug operations and overland SAR. Before that though, he must pass SERE (Survival, Escape, Reconnaissance and Evasion) School and
finish A School in Pensacola to learn more about his aircraft and the mission sets.
Best of luck, Ryan. We’re all proud of you.
Veterans Salute
Dan Joyce, Veteran Affairs Chairman
*Contact: joycekimchase@gmail.com with any questions concerning
Veterans benefits or activities. Following is a list of sites for Veterans to obtain assistance for a variety of their needs. For our non-veteran division brothers please pass these on to your friends or family who are veterans.
1. The Missouri Veterans Commission web page link.https:://www.mvc.dps.mo.gov/service/
2. Veterans Administrations' (VA) link to access the Blue Button feature, that, once you set it up, will let you retrieve all of your records to include health records, record of service, etc.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/review-medical-records/ *
NEXT MEETING is May 14; FOLLOWING MEETING is June 11.
Rest In Peace
*If you know of a Pearse member or a friend of our division who passes away please contact President Mike Aylward, maylward@sekbank.com, and we will include them in our prayers and in this column.
*Sick Bay
Please keep the following Hibernians and friends and family in your daily prayers:
Kathy Chaney Ann Quinn
Lydia Powell Carol Lark
Walter P. Murphy Kathy Glynn
Dorothy Clemons John McNally
Brother John Phelan Brother Pete Lobdell
BrotherJoe DeKat Brother Steve Page
All the ill and elderly in skilled nursing facilities
*The following e-mail was received from Jan Aylward of the Kansas City Irish Fest, concerning her granddaughter, Dorothy Clemons who has been battling Leukemia for three years.
As you will see - the news is good and Dorothy’s time on our prayer list has begun to bear fruit. Dorothy is celebrating her one year anniversary without treatment! Please continue to keep little Dorothy in your prayers Jan’s E-Mail:
Good morning!
I just wanted to take the opportunity to let you know we are celebrating my granddaughter, Dorthy’s one year anniversary of being cancer free. All your prayers have gotten us here. Dorthy & her mom, Elaine would like to invite anyone to celebrate with them by supporting an event to help other kids who are fighting childhood cancer. Please see the flyer below. My whole family thanks you for all the prayers and support!
Jan Aylward aylward.jan@gmail.com
***CHECK OUT OUR WEB PAGE FOR ALL THINGS IRISH: www.kcaoh.org
January 1, 2026
From Outgoing President Dennis Murray
Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and took advantage of the amazing weather we had last week. As we welcome 2026, I’m excited for all that our division will accomplish under the leadership of our newly elected officers.
Looking back on 2025, I am filled with pride for everything we achieved together and grateful for the support of such dedicated members. A special congratulations to Mike Nash, named our Hibernian of the Year for 2026—so very well deserved! We look forward to celebrating Mike at our annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Congratulations as well to all of our elected board members for 2026–2027, especially Mike Aylward, our new President. I have full confidence that Mike will do an outstanding job, and I encourage everyone to support him and the new officers in every way possible. I’ll certainly be there to assist in any capacity needed.
Please join us at the January meeting as we install the new officers and officially pass the gavel to Mike and his board.
Finally, thank you again for your trust and support during my time as President. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve this great division. Save me a seat on the other side as I wish you and your families a Happy New year!
Slainte,
Dennis Murray
From Incoming President Mike Aylward
Thank You Dennis Murray Myself and the brothers of the Padraig Pearse Division of AOH, KCMO extend our sincere gratitude to you, Dennis. Your leadership, dedication, and guidance have left a lasting mark on our Division. During your tenure as President, as well as the many other Division offices you have held, you have demonstrated to us your deep commitment to the core values of the AOH - Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. Whether leading our monthly Division meetings, running our annual Shrimp Dinners, or following up on our many other Division projects and religious activities, you were always there – leading us with enthusiasm
And just as important, you always greeted everyone with a welcoming smile and friendly hello.
On behalf of myself and the entire Division, we offer our heartfelt thanks to you, Dennis for your service. We are grateful for the time and energy you have put into each of the many Division offices you have held, and we look forward to your continued involvement and support as a valued member, an advisor, and a friend.
Mike Aylward