 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. 1 John 4:11Editor’s Note: This issue includes several articles that appeared in the October edition. Those articles showed a much higher interest than normal, or promote future events.Friday – November 7, 2025”Holy Souls” EditionThe Church is composed of the faithful living upon the earth and those who have gone before us. The latter includes the saints in Heaven and the faithful souls being purified in Purgatory. Just as on November 1 we honor those who are with God, on November 2 Catholics celebrate a Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Also known as All Souls’ Day, on this day we honor them for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God. As Revelation 21:27 says of the Heavenly Jerusalem, “… nothing unclean shall enter in.”From the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1261: As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus’ tenderness toward children which caused him to say: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,” allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church’s call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.AOH National Board Prays for the Protection of the Unborn Standing before the beautiful Lady of Knock Shrine at the Monsignor Crean Division 1 in Trenton, NJ, AOH National President, Sean Pender, addresses members of the AOH National Board and guests, just before praying the Rosary on Saturday morning October 17th. The three-day National Board meeting ended with Holy Mass and Sean Pender’s Testimonial Dinner on Saturday, October 17th, 2025. National Deputy Chaplain, Fr. Colm Mitchell prepares to lead the Rosary offered for the Protection of the Unborn, Vocations, and the Unification of Ireland. Guests and Members of the AOH National Board gather outside to pray the Rosary. Beautiful life size statues of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Knock, and St. John the Evangelist are the centerpiece of the Lady of Knock Shrine at the AOH Monsignor Crean Division 1 in Trenton, NJ.Read more about Our Lady of KnockStanding for Life and True Choice! October 27, 2025 By Neil CosgroveThe National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Sean Pender, has issued a statement regarding a proposed facility in Hudson County, NJ capable of performing abortions through all stages of pregnancy. It’s morally indefensible that abortions of viable children could occur while nearby, infants of identical gestational age embrace life in NICUs. Our laws and conscience cannot remain divided on whether the value of a child’s life, or any life, depends solely on whether he or she is wanted or is convenient to others. Any society that adopts such a standard places itself on a slippery slope, where the worth of human life becomes negotiable and the powerless exist only at the mercy of the powerful. New Jersey abolished capital punishment to spare even the lives of convicted criminals. How can we now contemplate taking viable innocent lives that have committed no crime and have no advocate? As an adoptive father, I know firsthand that a life once despaired of can become a source of immeasurable love. Countless families are ready to open their hearts if our policies make choosing life as accessible as its alternative. We’re calling on the New Jersey Legislature to ensure that every public dollar spent facilitating abortion is matched by a dollar supporting life, — housing, prenatal care, adoption support, and childcare assistance for mothers in crisis. Otherwise “choice” is no choice at all. True compassion defends both mother and child. True choice requires real support.Read the Entire Statement Here!Read about the proposed late abortion clinic herePeadar Tóibín confirmed – March for Life Washington, DC Friday January, 23, 2026!  The AOH will participate in the 2026 March for Life in Washington, DC on Friday, January 23, 2026. Plans are underway for the annual AOH March for Life Breakfast and Mass, as well as a fundraiser for St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth, and Families! Peadar Tóibín will be the keynote speaker for the AOH Breakfast!Peadar Tóibín, born 19 June 1974 is an Irish politician who has served as leader of Aontú since January 2019. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency since 2011. He previously served as Chair of the Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2016 to 2018. He founded Aontú in January 2019. He was elected as a Sinn Féin candidate in 2011, but resigned from the party on 15 November 2018, primarily due to his opposition to the party’s stance on abortion.Click here for the March for Life website!Read more about Aontu and Peadar TóibínOhio Brothers March for Life! On Friday October 3, 2025 Hibernian brothers from Ohio joined the March for Life in Columbus, Ohio.  Jacob Durda (Ohio Pro Life Chair) with the Bishop of Columbus Earl Fernandes Left to Right: Jacob Durda (Ohio Pro Life Chair), Patrick Lally (Ohio Catholic Action Chair), Ed Moss, and Bruce McPherson (Ohio AOH vice president) Watch the March and Rally on YouTubeHibernians Dedicate Garden to Lost ChildrenHibernian Brothers of Division 17, Allegheny County, PA along with social members of the Irish Club in Monroeville, PA dedicated a garden as a lasting memory of children they have lost. More than 19 members have lost their beloved children of all ages. Several more have lost a child but wish to keep their loss private. The garden was the idea of Division President, Dan O’Reily, who lost his daughter to a battle with cancer. Please keep all parents suffering this painful loss in your prayers. 40 Days for Life Wraps Up Fall CampaignDaily Vigils Continue!During the closing of the 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign, Bishop William Waltersheid, Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh, holds the Monstrance in front of Planned Parenthood in Pittsburgh, PA, where abortions are performed daily. Attendees prayed, sang hymns, and then processed with the Holy Eucharist, to Divine Mercy Parish for the closing service. During the Fall Campaign, National and PA State Pro-Life Chairman Larry Squires prays with members of his home parish, St. Thomas the Apostle, at Planned Parenthood in Pittsburgh. On October 10th, members of the Col. Thomas J. Cunningham Division, Loudoun County, VA, along with Parishioners from Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling, VA, gathered with Parochial Vicar Fr. John Paul Heisler to say the rosary on behalf of the unborn in front of the Falls Church, VA abortion clinic. No apparent activity during the 2 hours on site – We credit the Power of Prayer! Christ The Redeemer Coordinator Brother Ray Bradish along with Division Pro-Life Chairman and Vice President, Gerard Oswald, and AOH VA Pro-Life Chairman Jay McCarthy. Hibernian Tom Robinson, Pro-Life Chairman for Maryland, joins the 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign in Frederick, MD.Click Here to find a Prayer Vigil in Your Neighborhood!Send a month’s supply of diapers as your Pro Life gift!Click on the image above to access the Map and see the status of Pro-Life laws in your home state!March for Life in Your Home State!Click Buttons for more information and save the date!Concord, New Hampshire – Saturday January 10, 2026Washington, DC – Friday January 23, 2026Hibernian Brother John Downing is organizing a van pool to the March for Life in Washington, DC, from the Greater New York City Area. Please contact John at downingjr@aol.com or (917)744-5700 for more information.If your March is not posted, please send information about your March to lspittcmf@gmail.com.2025 Room At The Inn Casino NightNovember, 8th, 2025November 8, 2025 from 6:00-10:00 PMPaul J Ceiner Botanical Gardens 215 S. Main St Kernersville, NC 27284Includes a Silent Auction and Raffle TicketsCome dressed to impress in your finest cocktail attire!Doors open at 6:00 PM. Games begin at 7:00 PM.Room at the Inn Mission Statement: Responding to the call of Christ to nurture life, Room At The Inn, operates housing and programs for single, pregnant women and single mothers with children suffering from homelessness offering them opportunities to have new lives of healthy, hope-filled independence. Room At The Inn, Inc. is an unique, comprehensive program helping homeless single pregnant women with or without previous children. Room at the Inn helps not only during pregnancies but also after the birth of their babies. We provide shelter, food, clothing, case management, in-house daycare, transportation, life skills education and counseling in a structured environment. We also help families have new lives of healthy, hope-filled self sufficiency.Click Here to Read More, Sponsor the Event, Make Reservations, or DonateSister (Colonel) (Doctor) Dede Byrne to speak at the Pro Life Union of Greater Philadelphia Dinner in NovemberSister Deirdre Byrne is an active missionary sister and superior of her community in Washington, DC. She is double board-certified in family medicine and general surgery. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Sister Deirdre (known to many as Sister DeDe) is one of eight siblings, attended Langley High School, and graduated from Virginia Tech. After college, Sister DeDe followed in her thoracic surgeon father’s footsteps and entered medical school at Georgetown University, where she eventually completed a surgical residency. During that time she also joined the Army. After a life of medical and military service in far ranging areas, she was led to the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts community, whose charism involves sisters placing each and every person they care for between the Heart of Jesus and Mary. Her apostolate has been performing overseas medical missionary surgery and providing free medical care for the poor and uninsured. The over 125-year-old community includes 400-500 members. By 2000, the board-certified Dr. Byrne made her commitment to the Little Workers and began her novitiate training in earnest.Click to go to the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia Website Read more about Sister Dede at the GivenInstitute.comExcerpts from “Sharing the Pro-Life Message!  From the Pro-Choice Arguments section:Why don’t you care about babies once they’re born?The pro-life movement cares very much about babies, both before and after they’re born. That is why we have established a nationwide support system of thousands of Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) devoted to providing emotional and material support for women facing both untimely pregnancy and the demands of being a new parent.Research shows abortion has increased rates of child abuse and other violent acts. Thus, decreasing the number of abortions means that fewer children will be abused.Source: Coleman, Priscilla K., et al. “Associations Between Voluntary and Involuntary Forms of Perinatal Loss and Child Maltreatment Among Low Income Mothers.” Acta Paediatrica 94, and no. 10 (2005). To find a PRC in your neighborhood,Google “Pro-Life Pregnancy Resource Center Near Me”Click here to purchase “Sharing the Pro-Life Message”Prayer for Life, from Archbishop Richard Smith of Vancover  Almighty God, giver of all that is good,we thank you for the precious gift of human life.For life in the womb, coming from your creative power.For the life of children, making us glad, with their freshness and promise.For the life of young people, hoping for a better world.For the life of people who are disabled,teaching us that every life has value.For the life of the elderly,witnessing to the ageless values of patience and wisdom.Like blessed Mary, may we always say yes to your gift.May we defend it and promote it from conception to its natural end.And bring us at last, O Father,to the fullness of eternal life in Jesus Christ Our Lord. AmenThe Readings for Holy MassSolemnity of All SaintsNovember 1, 2025The Trinity Dome, at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, took over two years to complete from start to finish. Made with 14 million tesserae (tiles), it covers a total of 18,299 square feet. Pictured in the mosaic are the Blessed Trinity, the Immaculate Conception, 18 saints with a connection to North America or the Basilica, two archangels, four choir angels, and four evangelists. It is the third dome on the path to the Christ in Majesty mosaic and was dedicated on December 8, 2017.The readings for Holy Mass on Solemnity of All Saints is filled with truths about Pro-Life issues. In the first reading from the Book of Revelations, the last line reads, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” While the Book of Revelations can be difficult to interpret, this comment clearly refers to the faithful who have practiced their faith in fidelity with the teachings of our savior, Jesus Christ. We are living in a time of great distress when pop culture and politicians push mortal sins as being the compassionate and responsible response to difficult life issues and decisions. The Psalms clearly describe the struggle we face on earth, as we long for our heavenly reward. In the second reading, John the Evangelist states, “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” The world pushes abortion as a way to deal with a difficult pregnancy, war as a way to settle political differences, and assisted suicide as a way to ease suffering, proving that the world does not know him, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel Acclimation, we hear Jesus say, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, And I will give you rest, says the Lord.” When we are given difficult life decisions, this brief comment from Jesus prompts us the seek the interior comfort and joy of joining our suffering with Jesus. In his book, “The Real Jesus” by Luke Timothy Johnson, the Author states, “Faith can only be proven by the experience of the faithful.” Through our experiences, those of us who go to Jesus with our difficult life decisions know that this is true, And for anyone who has stood near an abortion facility to pray and talk to the people entering those facilities, we know for a fact that what Jesus says in the Gospel passage is true. “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Reading 1 – Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,”Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had a vision of a great multitude,which no one could count,from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,and from the Lamb.” All the angels stood around the throneand around the elders and the four living creatures.They prostrated themselves before the throne,worshiped God, and exclaimed: “Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,honor, power, and mightbe to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,”Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”He said to me,”These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;the world and those who dwell in it.For he founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?or who may stand in his holy place?One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,who desires not what is vain.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,a reward from God his savior.Such is the race that seeks him,that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Reading 2 – 1 John 3:1-3Beloved:See what love the Father has bestowed on usthat we may be called the children of God.Yet so we are.The reason the world does not know usis that it did not know him.Beloved, we are God’s children now;what we shall be has not yet been revealed.We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,for we shall see him as he is.Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,as he is pure. Alleluia – Matthew 11:28R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,And I will give you rest, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel – Matthew 5:1-12aWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they who mourn,for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the land.Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the clean of heart,for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute youand utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.Rejoice and be glad,for your reward will be great in heaven.”Click here to read the complete Readings for this MassGood Counsel Homes Wednesday night telecon Rosary, for Life, for an end to abortion, and for peace in the world!  Since 1985 Good Counsel Homes has helped more than 8,000 pregnant mothers in need throughout the United States. We are ready to help you and your baby today!In the Spirit of prayer would you like to join this Wednesday, or any Wednesday night, in a telecon Rosary, for Life, for an end to abortion and for peace in the world? Just call into this Weekly Wednesday Rosary telecon at 8:30 PM. Dial: 701.802.5469 access code 845485# If you have any special intentions you’d like us to pray for, please email me back with “Rosary Prayer Intention” in the subject line. Where two or three are gathered, Jesus is with us. Peace, Christopher Bell +δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ www.goodcounselhomes.orgwww.postabortionhelp.org  Ed Olearczyk, AOH Lehigh Valley, PA Pro-Life Chairman, shown with Chris Bell, Founder of Good Counsel Homes. Good Counsel was founded in 1985 to help homeless, pregnant women in dire need. Our goal is to help you have your baby in a safe, loving home while providing the support you need to get back on your feet. We’ve helped thousands of women like yourself for over 35 years, and we look forward to supporting you in any way we can.Back in 1979, Christopher Bell began working with Covenant House, a ministry for homeless youth. After meeting many desperate homeless, pregnant women in urgent need, he turned to his spiritual advisor, Father Benedict Groeschel. He asked, “Why someone isn’t doing something about this?” Fr. Groeschel said he would help him. Together they founded what would be called Good Counsel with its first home opening in Hoboken, New Jersey, on March 10, 1985. For many years, Good Counsel has been blessed by many generous friends and donors who have supported our mission. Through their charity, we continue to help many pregnant mothers who come to us for assistance. We do this by providing a loving home, full maternity care, and the specific support each mother needs to have a bright, hopeful future.Visit www.goodcounselhomes.orgNew Pro-Life Advocacy Group Energizes the Pro-Life Community in Youngstown, OH  From Pay Lally, AOH Ohio State Catholic Action Chairman:At Voices 4 Life, our mission is to share with everyone we encounter the sanctity of life and God’s divine purpose for each of us, advocating for community support and pro-life initiatives that honor the unborn. AwarenessThrough your prayers, involvement and voice, we will be a light in our communities, providing hope and tangible help to women, families and the unborn AllianceTo strategically partner with churches and organizations who provide healthy alternatives and support for expectant mothers and fathers. AdvocacyTo advocate for the rights of the unborn and actively engage in promoting a culture that values life at all stages. ActivismTo boldly and publicly proclaim Pro Life Initiatives.Visit https://voices4life.net/Attention all AOH Pro Life Chairmen – Resources for Reports Available!If you would like a PDF copy of this report, or any of the past reports, just send me an email request, using the address below, and I’ll get it to you very quickly.Follow the link below for report topics and content to deliver to your state, county, or division!https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e03eFlF1lBkBr1DAHro0dejUYspsBeF2xMRk |
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