Highlights: The Father Kelley Division fundraising efforts and results were discussed. The schedule of activities in 2023 was reviewed and modified. Future key fundraising and recruiting events were discussed.
The meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM at the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus Club Room, 9290 Stonewall Road in Manassas by Vice President Greg Gibbons.
Recitation of the Opening Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. In the name of St. Patrick, the Glorious Apostle of Ireland, I open this meeting and beseech our Heavenly Father to watch over us and protect us. May He grant us that peace and harmony will always prevail among us, and that Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity will inspire all our deliberations, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
- Our Father x
- Hail Mary x
- Pledge of Allegiance x
Meeting Agenda:
The Recording Secretary, accomplished the Roll Call of Officers:
| President: | Patrick Sullivan | E |
| Vice President: | Greg Gibbons | P |
| Chaplain: | Fr. Daniel Reuwer | E |
| Recording Secretary: | Michael Eggleston | P |
| Financial Secretary: | Richard Aleksy | P |
| Treasurer: | Brian Tumulty | P |
| Standing Committee: | Douglas Morrison | P |
| Marshall: | Greg Rebbert | P |
| Sentinel: | Paul Hannan | P |
| Past President: | Tom Masarick | P |
Minutes from previous meeting. Mike Eggleston: The 9 January 2023 Minutes were distributed to all members and were posted to the division website on 2 February. No changes have been received A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and those members present voted to approve the minutes as posted on the division website.
President’s Report. Greg Gibbons: The National Hibernian Digest published an article about the Father Kelley Division. A replacement is needed for the lead on road clean-up because Rick Ring is leaving.
Propositions for Membership. Pete Hawkins: No new propositions for membership.
Reports on Candidates for Membership. Pete Hawkins: None.
Communications & Correspondence. Mike Eggleston: We received a note from Haymarket Regional Food Pantry for our donation of $250.
Reports.
- Trip to Ireland Ticket Sales. 571 tickets have been sold. Ticket sales are scheduled for this weekend and 11 March. Please contact JP McCusker Jpandmaggie@aol.com to volunteer to sell tickets at the Masses.
- Cookbook Status. Mike Eggleston: We received 226 copies of the cookbook from the Morris Publishing Company
Sold 153.
Remaining 73.
We are selling our cookbook on eBay and our website and have received advertising rates from the Hibernian Digest and Irish Echo. We have not decided on these yet. March is prime time to sell because of St. Patrick’s Day.
- Veterans Charity Beer Tasting. Vince Fitzpatrick: The Beer Tasting on 3 February made over $1,100.
- Calendar Events/Special Reports. Pete Hawkins distributed the 2023 Calendar. Discussion followed.
– 18-19 February. Raffle Ticket Sales. 6-9 people are needed to sell tickets at each Mass. Call JP McCluster ajpandmaggie@aol.com to volunteer.
– 25 February. A Road Clean-up is scheduled.
– 27 February. Manassas City council will announce Irish American Heritage Month.
– 28 February. Prince William County will announce Irish American Heritage Month.
– 7 March. Officers meeting date is now TBD.
– 12 March. This is the last Raffle Ticket Sale after Mass.
– 14 March. The Gaelic Mass is scheduled for Monday, 13 March. In order to allow our members to attend, our division meeting was moved to Tuesday, 14 March.
– 18 March. St Patrick’s Dinner Dance. Tom Masarick has coordinated with the Knight’s organizer to determine our participation. A poster providing details about the Dinner Dance has been posted to our Division website. Help is needed to setup. Contact Tom Masarick tmasarick@aol.com .
– 22 March. Volunteer Appreciation Event. Father Kelley Division will be recognized by the DSANV, Downs Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia for our support.
– 24 March. A Fish Fry is scheduled this year and it was added to the calendar. Help is needed for the Fish Fry. Contact Gerry Ulrich glulrich@comcast.net. A poster providing information about the Fish Fry is posted to our Division website.
– 13 May. Our annual picnic is scheduled. We need a lead to manage this event.
– 8 July Father Kelley Mass. We will focus our recruiting campaign on 8-9 July and will need volunteers at all Masses to promote our Father Kelley Division.
– Pete Hawkins will post the revised calendar to our division website.
Special Committees:
Chaplain’s Reflection. Father Daniel Reuwer. No Report.
Charities and Missions. Greg Rebbert: No Report.
Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI). Dominic Preston. In Northern Ireland no government has been formed since the election last year. The Six Nation Rugby Tournament has started and this is the only time that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland play as one team.
Report on the Standing Committee/Grievance. Doug Morrison: No Report.
Historian. Mike Eggleston provided his report on the Black Irish.
Hibernian Hunger Project. Bart Emanuel: No Report.
Immigration. Brian Tumulty: Brian provided his Report on Immigration.
Political Education Chair (PEC). Vince Fitzpatrick: No Report.
Project St. Patrick. Rich Aleksy: We have 48 seminarians in our dioceses and that is significantly higher than the Richmond diocese. Cost of supporting each seminarian is $50,000 a year.
Pro-Life. Paul Huber: The Pro-Life March in Richmond drew thousands in attendance, and we had a keynote address from the Lt, Governor Sears and strong messages from AG Miyares and Bishop Burbridge at the Pre-Rally and Governor Younkin led the March through downtown Richmond. We had opportunities to meet with our District Senators and Delegates and express our support for life and specific bills related to Life before the legislature. I met up with Tom Masarick who served as a Parade Marshal. A radical bill allowing abortion in Virginia is before the state house. Sign up to protest and write to your state delegate to oppose the bill.
Publicity/Webmaster. No Report.
Strategic Planner. Mike Riley: No Report.
Veterans Affairs. Doug Morrison: Doug provided his Veterans Affairs Report
Bills and Claims. Rich Aleksy:
Income:
Dues: $336
Cookbooks: $480
Clubroom: $71
Ireland Trip Raffle: $2,537.00
Bracelets: $$60
Total: $3,508
Vouchers:
23-005 Parade Ad: $1000
23-006 Gaelic Mass: $100
Total: $1,100
Report of the Treasurer’s. Brian Tumulty: Brian provided his Treasurer’s Report.
Unfinished business. JP McCusker: JP asked that those who have tickets out and are not able to sell them to return them so that they can be circulated for sale at upcoming events. Vince Fitzpatrick reported that 80 tickets were sold for Beer Tasting and we made $1,194.
New Business.
- Brian Tumulty reported that Brother Hibernian Eric Latcheran, who is himself a Special Olympian, is participating in three Polar Plunges this year. The first was in Big Rocky Run stream in Chantilly at an event held by the St. Timothy Knights of Columbus. The second was in the Potomac River at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge. And the third will be in the Atlantic Ocean at the state Polar Plunge held in Virginia Beach.
- Gerry Ulrich asked that we support the Polar Plunge which is scheduled for this weekend (a subsequent announcement providing details was sent to the Division).
- Rich Aleksy mentioned that it is 35th anniversary of the founding of our division and we should plan a celebration.
Report on the Sick/Visitation. Bill Yochem:
- Prayers were requested for Kay Sullivan who is undergoing chemotherapy.
- Chris Sozio asked that we keep his father and other family members in our prayers.
- Rich Aleksy thanked the division Brothers for their prayers regarding his kidney surgery.
President: Pray Prayer to St. Jude:
Saint Jude, glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus: The name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of difficult cases and things almost despaired of. Pray for us as we are so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for us that He bring visible and speedy help. Come to our assistance in this great need that we may receive the consolation and help of Heaven in all our necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly for those in need under our Good and Welfare of the order, and that we may bless God with the Elect throughout eternity. Amen.
Saint Jude, Apostle, martyr and relative of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Mary and St. Joseph, intercede for us. Amen.
Adjournment. The president made a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved by vote of those present.
Closing Prayer
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And in the name of St. Patrick, the Glorious Apostle of Ireland, I declare this meeting closed. Grant, O Lord, who makes the minds of the faithful to be of one will, that we, Thy people may love what Though has commanded, and desire what Thou has promised, and that amid the changes of the world our hearts may ever love and obey Thee, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Let us pray for our deceased Brothers. All say:
- Our Father
- 3 Hail Mary Mary’s
- Glory Be
President: Eternal Rest grant to them, O Lord.
Members: And let perpetual light shine upon them.
President: May they rest in peace.
Members: Amen.
PRAYERS FOR VOCATIONS
President: Lead division in saying 3 Hail Mary’s
- Hail Mary
- Hail Mary
- Hail Mary
President: Brothers, you are cautioned against speaking of anything that has transpired at this meeting to any but those who you know to be members in good standing and bound by the same fraternal ties of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity
Adjourned. The President cautioned the brothers against speaking of anything that transpired at this meeting. The President noted that the next division meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 14 March 2023. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26PM. After the meeting, the 50/50 Raffle Drawing was accomplished. Doug Morrison won the raffle.
