LAOH News

Events

Here is a list of our upcoming events:

03/05/26 – Annual AOH Div 23 Memorial mass.

03/06/26 – Button Party, Cost $35/ $40 @ door @ the Priory 5:00 – 7:30 pm

03/08/26 – Communion Breakfast

03/14/26 – St. Patrick’s Parade

LAOH Division #23

Monthly Membership Meeting –Agenda
Friday, February 13, 2026, 7:00pm

Opening Prayers/Special Intentions:
Prayers
● Pray for the Defranco family, Mrs Jay Defranco passed away. May God Rest her Soul.
● Richard Cervi (passed away 2/11) and Audra Walker.

Praises

Our sister Mary Pat Lavery is doing really well.She got a good report from her Doctor last month and has started Physical Therapy this month!

Pledge of Allegiance:
Roll Call:

● Present: President (Regina Byrnes), Vice President (Colleen DeFilippo), Treasurer (Kara
Purnell), Recording Secretary (Carmella Law), Financial Secretary (Fran Pischke),
Historian (Patty Chavez), Catholic Action (Jamie DePastino), Mistress at Arms (Germaine
D’Amico), Missions and Charities (Sue Bryan)
● Excused: Sentinel (Lois Callwood),

Motion for Last Month’s Meeting Minutes:

Installation of New Members:

I’m excited to announce that we have several new members joining this month:

● Holly Victor
● Brogan Victor
● Liz Shovlin-Grinko
● Dawn Smith
● Molly Kuczinski

Guest Speaker:
Sr. Sue Fazini- friends of Eileen D’Amico is here to help spread the word on her Charity: Hello Baby

Correspondence:

● Email 1/6/26 – Dennis Maher sent parade day form. I filled out the form and returned. I
requested 2 passes for vehicles.

● Remember if you want to apply for the Ambassador to Ireland program (ages 17-25),
the deadline is March, 17, 2026. See Regina or Maddie and they can send you the link
to apply.
● Kathleen has Button Party pins for Sale. $35 – Details below
● Echoes of Erin Newsletter and email – See attached
● National Board sent email – Revolutionary Women – See attached
● Note all attachments will be sent electronically only with the minutes

Officer Presentations:
PRESIDENT:

● Reports were completed and turned in. If you would like to see a copy of anything that
was turned in, please request one from Regina. All below reports were completed and
sent.

Membership Report Financial Report Jr. Financial Report
Historian Report Catholic Action Report No M & C report due

● Together with the VFW we are going to have an All Class St. Kieran Reunion in June.
Regina is on the committee and will be reaching out to Shot of Soul as our headliner.
We are looking to have bands throughout the day (if it’s not too expensive). Block of the
street between the VFW and the AOH and get a food truck. We are going to come up
with a price and a game plan to get the word out to alumni.
● Timmy said they will meet with us board to board. I will get an agenda together and
send it to the board. If you have anything you would like added to the list, please
forward to Regina.
● Parade attire: A show of hands for the same as years past: Aaron Sweater with sash.
(Black turtleneck or shirt underneath, Black pants and Black shoes. If this is what we are
wearing does anyone need a sweater or sash?
● Next month’s meeting is the day before St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Would you all want to
move the meeting to either the previous Sunday or the following Sunday?
● Congratulations to Pat Byrne Sr. and his family. Yesterday it was announced at the
Parade fundraiser that he will be the Grand Marshall of this year’s parade !!
● Last but certainly not least I want to give a big shout out to our sister, Molly McKenna.
Through sweat and tears she is proud to announce she will be officially starting a
member at large division at Saint Mary’s this spring of 2026 under the name “Friends of
the LAOH”. I will forward a copy of her email with the meeting minutes for you all to read. I am beyond proud of Molly and offered to help with any startup cost they would
but there are none. They are not going to maintain a bank account. Let’s discuss trip.

VICE PRESIDENT:

TREASURER:

Charity Fund Starting Balance Operations Fund Starting Balance

$1,721.87 $4,848.28

Charity Fund Ending Balance Operations Fund Ending Balance
$1,630.87 $5,976.10

•Would Saturday May 16th work for cash bash? (Do we want to continue Cashbash?)
•Knights of Columbus ASAP program- Motion to donate $100
•Should I go ahead with the custom ink order form? (Copies of design on tables)

RECORDING SECRETARY:

● No Update

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
104 Active member
6 Members we carry
4 members not paid for 2025
29 members paid for 2026

We are having Lois reach out to the people who have not paid in 2025 to see if they still want to
be members.

IRISH HISTORIAN:

CATHOLIC ACTION:

● Do we want to do something for Mary’s Place this spring, Carmella will coordinate with
Mary’s Place
● St Pio updates – Rosary society, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Reading Group (CS
Lewis)

MISSIONS AND CHARITIES:

Donation Request:

Diane Byrnes requested that we sponsor Echoes of Erin again. This would come out of
our Operations Fund.

Events – March

03/05/26 – Annual AOH Div 23 Memorial mass.

03/06/26 – Button Party, Cost $35/ $40 @ door @ the Priory 5:00 – 7:30 pm

03/08/26 – Communion Breakfast

03/14/26 – St. Patrick’s Parade

Good & Welfare of the Order:

Dues ($30) are being accepted for the 2026 year. You can pay in person at the monthly
meeting to Nan Pischke or mail in your check to Nan Pischke at 1822 Jancey Street, Pittsburgh,
PA 15206. You can also send Pay Pal to Kara but please remember to note that it is for annual
membership dues.

Closing Prayers:

NEXT MEMBERSHIP MEETING will be TDB

Division Web Site – https://laohdiv23.org/  
County Web Site – HOME | Laohalleghenycounty (laohpgh)
State Web Site – HOME | Pa Laoh
National Web Site – Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. | (ladiesaoh.com) (Un!ty24)

Monthly Membership Meeting – Minutes
Friday, January 9, 2026, 7:00pm

Opening Prayers/Special Intentions:

Prayers

Our Sister MaryPat Lavery is doing great. Her cancer screenings are coming back good. We will need to wait and see about the condition of her back.
Germaine D’Amico recovered very well from her heart surgery and wants to thank everyone for all their prayers.
Judy Byrnes – She had back surgery in December and is recovering from surgery
The Knapp Family. Pat Knapp passed away last week and her son Andy Knapp was in a manufacturing accident this week.
Please pray for Timmy Flynn
Donna would like to thank us for all the prayers for her sister Denise, she is doing well.
Please pray for a 25-year-old who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.
Adrienne would like us to pray for her cousin who has a severe flu strain.
Nan mentioned a relative she would like us to pray for.

Praise God: Gina read the Miracle of Friendship Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance:
Roll Call:

Present: President (Regina Byrnes), Vice President (Colleen DeFilippo), Treasurer (Kara
Purnell), Recording Secretary (Carmella Law), Financial Secretary (Fran Pischke),
Historian (Patty Chavez), Catholic Action (Jamie DePastino), Mistress at Arms (Germaine
D’Amico)
Excused: Missions and Charities (Sue Bryan) Sentinel (Lois Callwood)

Motion for Last Month’s Meeting Minutes:
We don’t have any meeting minutes from last month. We only met for our Holiday party.
Installation of New Members:
No new members this month.
Correspondence:

Mail: Before Christmas we received a Christmas Card and Letter from Diane Byrnes
thanking us for being sponsors of Echoes of Erin. This is on the table here if you would
like to read it. I will send as an attachment to minutes.

Email: On 12/28 Diane Byrnes sent Dateline Irish Flyer – See attached for Irish events
coming in the remainder of January.
Email: On 1/1/26 I was sent a list of PA officers for PA Divisions. See attached
Email: On 1/4/26 Diane Byrnes sent Echoes of Erin Broadcasting Flyer. See attached.
This is packed full of Irish events around the city.
Email: On 12/20/25 Received an email from Colleen DeFilippo that the County Board
meeting has changed to 1/17/26. See below under events for details.
Email: On 12/3/25 Colleen DeFilippo sent Directions to Providence Hall for the upcoming
County Board meeting – see attached. (See me after meeting if you want me to email
them to you)
Email: On 12/14/25 – Received an email from Terry Welsh introducing herself as being
appointed Freedom for All Ireland Officer for PA. See attached.
Email: On 1/6/26 – Received an email from Ellen Haywiser- Allegheny County Catholic
Action Chair with the LAOH Hibernian of the Year Nomination Form. See attached. Does
anyone want to nominate a sister? Deadline is January 17 th
Email 1/6/26 – Dennis Maher sent parade day form. I will fill this out and return.
Email 1/6/26 – Carole Cooney-Syzdek, PA Secretary forwarded the 2026 constitution
proposed changes. Will send Electronically. If you would like to challenge or have any
questions regarding the changes, they must be submitted by deadline March 15th.
 Note all attachments will be electronic only

Officer Presentations:
PRESIDENT:

The board will meet to go over business for the first half of the year and to fill out all the
reports.
o Membership Report & Tax Bill Form (Per Capita) Nan and Regina to complete.
o Financial Report for Division 23 – Forwarded to Kara
Financial Report for the Jr.’s – Forwarded to Colleen
Have a call into Timmy requesting a meeting between the boards. Some of the items we
are going to bring up are:
o Kitchen Floor, any suggestion on installer
o Painting outside with mural
o Plants around the yard
o Covered area for smokers – Canopy
o Any other items do you think we should bring up?
o Molly McKenna gave a very informative summary of a discussion she had with
former LAOH National President Marilyn Madigan at South Bend, IN. It
encompassed enlisting college aged women into the LAOH. Because many
college campuses do not have LAOH Divisions in a city near them, the thought is
to have a National LAOH for college aged students. Notre Dame would be the
first campus to try this type of endeavor.
The St Patrick’s Day Parade Packet was received and will be filled out this week.

VICE PRESIDENT:
It was announced that due to the overwhelming number of responsibilities, Colleen would like
to step down as LAOH Division #23 Vice President. There was some discussion about the role of
a Juniors’ coordinator, but Colleen felt this was not permissible and the role of Vice President
be sought by someone else. Colleen will continue in her role until January 2027 Elections.

TREASURER:
Charity Beginning Balance = $ 3,307.93 Operating Fund Beginning Balance = $4,733.65

Charity Ending Balance = $ 1,721.87 Operating Fund Ending Balance = $4,848

RECORDING SECRETARY:
 No Update
FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
104 Active member
6 Members we carry
4 members not paid for 2025
20 members paid for 2026

IRISH HISTORIAN:–

Patty presented an essay on the Irish Contributions in the American Revolution. This
was the topic for the Irish History Writing Contest and Patty thought it would be a good
theme for our members. Her document is attached.

CATHOLIC ACTION:
- Gave Sally all the cards to deliver to the VA. Sally, do you have any update?
- Do we want to do something for Mary’s Place this spring, Carmella will coordinate withMary’s Place
- St Pio updates – Rosary society, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Reading Group (CS
Lewis)

MISSIONS AND CHARITIES:
 No Update.

Junior Update:
 Nan mentioned that the Juniors were very helpful during the AOH/LAOH Christmas
Party. She received many compliments on how helpful they were.

Donation Request:
Elieen Quinlan mentioned a Sister that she would like to assist with a donation. She will bring
information to the next meeting.

Events / Donation Request:
March
Saturday, 03/14/26 – St. Patrick’s Parade
Sunday, 3/15/26 Oscar Party – preparations have just begun

Good & Welfare of the Order:
Dues ($30) are being accepted for the 2026 year. You can pay in person at the monthly
meeting to Nan Pischke or mail in your check to Nan Pischke at 1822 Jancey Street, Pittsburgh,
PA 15206. You can also send Pay Pal to Kara but please remember to note that it is for annual
membership dues.

LAOH Division 23 ~ 25th Anniversary Celebration