December 11, 2023

Early in my first year I spoke to the attributes and foundations of our order: Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity.  Everything we do and accomplish in our most worthy organization is focused on those fraternal points.  That being said, our efforts can and should be boiled down to a simpler notion and it only takes one word: SERVICE. 

That’s what we do; we serve. We enjoy each others company, have fun working events such as the Road Clean-up and Summer picnic.  We come to the aid of each other when brothers are in need. Together as brothers we Celebrate various corporate masses and even a Gaelic mass together often followed by enjoying a meal together.  This type of service we call Friendship and Unity. 

We assist the community specifically with our beer tasting fundraiser that aids our veterans and their families via organization such as TAPS and Able Forces.  Through our Trip to Ireland Raffle ticket sales we are able to provide important funds to a host  local charities and even a couple at the National level activities such as our FFAI and Project St. Patrick Donations.  We provide  manpower for our local DSANV (Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia).  Our singular Hunger project event collected about a ton of food for the needy here in Manassas via the Bethany Food Pantry.  And how do we label this service: Christian Charity; perhaps the most important pillar holding up the mantle of the Ancient Organization of Hibernians of America.

I’m really not much for craftily piecing together noble words that motivate men to do what is right or that which is needed.  What I can say is that it takes many men within our worthy division to make it all happen.  That is us, that is you (sweep your hand across the room when you make this statement).  So I ask for the upcoming year, perhaps we each can make a small increase in effort to support the divisions efforts in 2024.  We had 6 members help with the road cleanup last weekend.  There was even a smaller number of members helping with the food drive.  Imagine if those numbers where doubled or tripled! How much more we would have SERVED our division, our community, our national organization. 

So, I challenge each and everyone who hears or reads these words, to  step up our dedication to the SERVICE of our organization which in reality SERVES many in need who are much less fortunate and are in desperate need for Christian Charity.

It was my honor to SERVE this division and each and everyone of you over the past two years.  It was very challenging to look at our calendar and what our members challenged themselves to accomplish. I ask you to raise the bar even higher than other past presidents.  Stosh sent me an email saying he was very proud that we still perform the Road Cleanup, an event he started.

I wish the best of luck to our next President and Vice President and officers who have to take what we’ve done to date, and ask, what more can we do to SERVE.

Patrick Sullivan